California electric vehicle sales flatline

This roundup of energy news headlines comes from our Western Energy News newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each morning.

TRANSPORTATION

• Data show California electric vehicle sales flatlined last year and Tesla sold 12% fewer cars than in 2023, potentially hampering automakers’ ability to meet state mandates. (Los Angeles Times, Mercury News)

• Washington state lawmakers consider legislation that would extend Tesla’s exemption from a ban on direct car sales to other electric vehicle manufacturers. (Washington State Standard)

• Colorado regulators look to make transportation emission testing more efficient and effective by establishing stricter standards for diesel vehicles, amending heavy truck requirements and establishing self-service monitoring kiosks. (Colorado Sun)

• California’s transportation commission allocates $1 billion to develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure, bike and pedestrian paths and public transit. (Times of San Diego)

OIL & GAS 

• An interstate gasoline pipeline ruptures in southwestern Colorado, spilling 23,000 gallons of fuel, contaminating drinking water wells and leaving some homes uninhabitable. (Durango Herald)

• Portland, Oregon’s city council approves a land use statement advancing a firm’s proposal to convert a petroleum storage facility to one that handles biofuels. (KOIN)

• U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum lifts a Biden-era offshore oil drilling ban and issues other orders aimed at ​“unleashing American energy” as his first moves as a cabinet member. (news release)

• Oregon lawmakers consider legislation that would allow local governments to implement gasoline taxes without voter approval. (OPB)

SOLAR

• A western Colorado nonprofit launches a locally funded program aimed at providing moderate and low-income homeowners with rooftop solar. (Durango Herald)

• New Mexico residents and officials debate the pros and cons of a proposed 96 MW solar-plus storage project near Santa Fe. (Santa Fe New Mexican)

• Developers bring the 300 MW Quartzite solar-plus-storage project online on federal land in southern California. (PV Magazine)

CLEAN ENERGY

The Trump administration’s federal Infrastructure and Inflation Reduction funding freeze disrupts Northwest rural clean energy and efficiency programs. (Canary Media)

CLIMATE

• Montana lawmakers debate proposed changes to the state law at the center of the landmark 2023 Held climate lawsuit that confirmed residents’ right to a clean and healthful environment. (Daily Montanan)

• A Washington city considers testing carbon capture equipment on its waste-to-energy facility in an effort to comply with the state’s climate law. (Waste Today)

GRID

Washington state farmers push back on a proposed transmission line that would cut through agricultural land. (Capital Press)

COMMENTARY

A Nevada columnist ponders the potential of the Trump administration reviving the defunct Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository licensing process. (Nevada Independent)