California regulator pumps brakes on oil company profit penalties

This roundup of energy news headlines comes from our Western Energy News newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning.

FOSSIL FUELS

• A top California regulator calls on the state to pause a plan to penalize excess oil company profits and instead use other methods to address high gasoline prices while phasing out reliance on fossil fuels. (Associated Press)

• The federal Bureau of Land Management approves NorthWestern Energy’s proposed gas pipeline in Montana following a 14-day accelerated environmental review process. (NBC Montana)

• The U.S. Geological Survey raises its estimate of technically recoverable oil and gas resources contained in federal lands in Nevada, but observers say it is unlikely to spur more drilling. (Nevada Current)

• The U.S. Interior Department awards 22 states and tribes $275 million to reclaim abandoned coal mines, including $1.7 million to the Navajo Nation. (news release)

GEOTHERMAL

• The federal Bureau of Land Management approves three proposed geothermal power projects in Nevada following an accelerated 14-day environmental review. (news release)

• The federal Bureau of Land Management plans a competitive geothermal lease sale for two parcels totaling 5,235 acres in southeastern Oregon. (news release)

TRANSPORTATION

• Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek plans to begin laying off state transportation department employees after Republican lawmakers blocked a proposed 3-cent gasoline tax increase. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

• A northern California air quality management district awards local entities $439,000 to acquire electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, and to take on other transportation-related projects. (Reporter)

UTILITIES

• Insurance companies’ lawyers allege that Southern California Edison’s equipment sparked the 2019 Saddleridge fire that damaged more than 100 homes in the Los Angeles area. (Los Angeles Times)

• Private equity firm Blackstone proposes acquiring Public Service Company of New Mexico and its parent company for $11.5 billion, spurring advocates’ concerns. (Santa Fe New Mexican)

• Oregon lawmakers pass legislation that would double funding for a state program helping low-income residents pay utility bills. (OPB)

CLIMATE

• A California appeals court upholds a ruling blocking the proposed 12,000-acre Centennial housing development in the southern part of the state, finding Los Angeles County failed to adequately consider the project’s estimated unmitigated greenhouse gas emissions. (Courthouse News)

• Washington state regulators levy a $20,000 fine on the Green Jobs PAC for violating campaign finance law while defending the state’s climate law against a repeal campaign. (Washington State Standard)

WIND

• Repsol proposes a 650 MW wind power facility on state and private land in southern Wyoming. (Wyoming Tribune Eagle)

SOLAR

• Colorado advocates, residents, and industry establish a solar cooperative in the western part of the state as Congress considers slashing federal clean energy tax credits. (Grand Junction Daily Sentinel)

• Colorado firms partner to install a rooftop solar array at Boulder Mod, which manufactures all-electric modular homes designed for low- to middle-income households. (Colorado Biz)

• New Mexico firm Array Technologies plans to acquire Ohio-based solar racks and foundation infrastructure manufacturer APA Solar. (Albuquerque Journal)

• A private-equity firm is poised to acquire the EVRAZ North America steel mill in Colorado, the world’s largest solar-powered facility of its kind. (CPR)

NEW FROM CANARY

• These fishermen made peace with offshore wind. Then Trump came along. By Clare Fieseler

• Will Congress pull the plug on Ohio’s clean energy momentum? By Kathiann M. Kowalski