California reveals zero-emissions vehicle plans

TRANSPORTATION: California regulators propose requiring 35% of new passenger vehicles sold in the state to be zero-emission by 2026, the first step toward banning gasoline-powered cars by 2035. (New York Times)

ALSO: A southern California public transit agency becomes the first in the nation to transition all of its trains to run on renewable fuel. (CBS Los Angeles)

OIL & GAS:
• A Colorado real estate developer plans to drill 26 oil and gas wells in one of its developments, with proposed wells sitting within 500 feet of future homesites. (Coloradoan)
• An energy analysis firm says regulators issued 904 drilling permits last month in the Permian Basin, an all-time high. (Bloomberg)
• A Colorado environmental group’s analysis finds New Mexico oil and gas producers set a record for drilling-related spills last year. (news release)

CLEAN ENERGY:
• Indigenous tribes in the Southwest team up with corporate investors to build utility-scale renewable energy facilities on their lands. (Time)
• Hawaiian Electric says it obtained 35% of its power from renewable sources in 2021, while half of Maui County’s electricity came from renewables. (Maui News)
• A southern New Mexico county considers developing regulations for solar and wind facilities. (Silver City Daily Press)

UTILITIES:
• A Washington state utility and city plan a community solar project that will generate revenue to help low-income households pay their energy bills. (KNKX)
• A California city audit finds the municipal utility has fallen short of ensuring the city is buying carbon-free electricity. (Palo Alto Online)

COAL: The University of Wyoming breaks ground on a house constructed of coal-derived carbon materials and char bricks. (news release)

NUCLEAR:
• Regulators say a uranium mill in southeastern Utah is violating federal clean air rules by leaving hazardous waste uncovered. (Durango Herald)
• Defense Department officials say the Idaho National Laboratory will build a mobile nuclear microreactor to power military equipment. (Breaking Defense)

CLIMATE: A California climate advocacy group says San Diego-area cities are falling behind in efforts to transform auto-centric landscapes into walkable neighborhoods. (San Diego Union-Tribune)

COMMENTARY: An editorial board urges California regulators to adopt an even more aggressive zero-emissions vehicle requirement than they recently proposed, saying ​“we are running out of time to act on climate change.” (Los Angeles Times)