California regulators deal a blow to community solar

SOLAR: California regulators side with utilities and propose rejecting a community solar-friendly tariff policy pushed by advocates, lawmakers and pro-solar groups, potentially killing efforts to revamp the state’s community solar market. (Canary Media)

ALSO:

• The Biden administration awards an Alaska Native nonprofit $26 million to help install solar-plus-battery storage systems in eight remote tribal communities. (NewsCenter Fairbanks)
• Los Angeles votes to encourage residential and commercial solar and battery installations by streamlining the review process. (Utility Dive)

UTILITIES: An Oregon jury orders PacifiCorp to pay more than $42 million to victims of the 2020 Labor Day fires blamed on the utility’s equipment. (Associated Press)

HYDROGEN: Xcel Energy pauses a plan to blend hydrogen with natural gas in its distribution system following opposition from residents and advocates. (CPR)

MINING:

• A company begins exploratory drilling for uranium just outside Bears Ears National Monument in southern Utah, raising advocates’ concerns. (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Mining companies target significant rare earth elements deposits in Wyoming, but some observers remain skeptical of their commercial viability. (WyoFile)

DIVESTMENT: Oregon lawmakers pass a bill that would divest the state’s public employee retirement fund from nearly $1 billion in coal-related investments. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

COAL: A company plans to demolish Alaska’s only coal loading facility, likely permanently ending the state’s coal export industry. (KTOO)

POLITICS: Wyoming’s senate passes language that would strip an agency of funding that has gone toward Gov. Mark Gordon’s ​“all of the above” energy strategy. (Wyoming Public Radio)

CLIMATE: The Biden administration awards $38 million to Oregon for resilience measures that can better protect residents from climate change-exacerbated wildfires. (KOIN)

GEOTHERMAL: Hawaii launches a statewide search for potential geothermal energy sources using federal COVID relief funds. (KHON)

GRID:

• Colorado regulators propose rules for utilities looking to join regional transmission organizations or day-ahead power markets. (Utility Dive)
• An analysis finds NV Energy would gain more economic benefits from joining California’s grid operator’s day-ahead market than from SPP’s competing market. (RTO Insider, subscription)

NUCLEAR: California advocates urge federal regulators to order Diablo Canyon nuclear plant to close immediately due to the ​“unacceptable risk” of a seismically induced accident. (Tribune)

HYDROPOWER: Data show Northwest hydroelectricity facilities generated less power in 2023 than in the last 20 years due to low winter snow levels. (KUOW)

TRANSPORTATION:

• Electric and hybrid vehicles are booming on the West coast but seeing slower growth throughout the rest of the country. (New York Times)
• An Arizona city considers ending a free public transit program launched during the pandemic even though ridership has increased during that time. (Tucson Sentinel)

COMMENTARY: A Colorado advocate urges state lawmakers to fashion policies aimed at accelerating residential building electrification. (Colorado Newsline)