California lawmakers advance bill aimed at preventing fuel price spikes

OIL & GAS: California lawmakers advance legislation aimed at preventing gasoline price spikes by authorizing regulators to require refiners to maintain minimum fuel reserves. (Associated Press)

ALSO:

• A petroleum company agrees to pay more than $16 million to resolve a federal civil suit alleging it violated federal and state air quality laws by failing to control pollution from its oil and gas facilities in eastern Utah. (news release)
• The Biden administration makes another $1.5 billion available for states and tribal nations to plug and reclaim abandoned and orphaned oil and gas wells.(news release)

SOLAR:

• Developers of one of Colorado’s largest agrivoltaic projects hope to produce some 30,000 pounds of vegetables in fields amid a new 1.2 MW solar array in Denver. (Colorado Sun)
• Advocates file a lawsuit seeking to block the federal Bureau of Land Management’s Western solar plan, saying utility-scale development under it could harm national scenic and historic trails.(E&E News, subscription)
• U.S. Sen. Ben Lujan, a New Mexico Democrat, introduces legislation that would extend federal grants and loans to community solar programs. (NM Political Report) 

WIND: A report finds Idaho elected officials’ and advocates’ opposition threaten to kill or diminish the proposed Lava Ridge wind project on federal land in the southern part of the state. (Heatmap)

UTILITIES: Alaska advocates say regulators’ refusal to consider a proposed electricity rate hike aimed at preventing a looming natural gas shortage violates a state law requiring them to promote resource conservation.(Northern Journal)

PUBLIC LANDS: Advocacy groups look to defend the Biden administration’s new public lands rule aimed at putting conservation on a par with oil and gas drilling from an industry lawsuit. (news release)

NUCLEAR: An Idaho utility looks to purchase power from a fleet of proposed nuclear micro-reactors in the southeastern part of the state. (East Idaho News)

LITHIUM:

• The Hualapai Nation continues to push back against proposed exploratory lithium drilling in western Arizona, saying it would destroy hot springs and disrupt ceremonial practices. (High Country News)
• The federal Bureau of Land Management approves two lithium exploratory drilling projects in southern Utah, prompting concerns about environmental impacts.(news release)

TRANSPORTATION: A federal judge temporarily blocks industry’s challenge to California’s law requiring railway firms to replace diesel locomotives with zero-emissions ones. (news release)

COMMENTARY: A California columnist accuses Gov. Gavin Newsom of bowing to industry pressure by vetoing bills aimed at encouraging solar and restricting gas appliances. (Los Angeles Times)