California running out of time to pass aggressive climate package

CLIMATE: California Gov. Gavin Newsom calls on lawmakers to pass the state’s most aggressive climate package ever before the legislative session ends on Aug. 31. (San Francisco Chronicle)

UTILITIES:
• Clean energy advocates oppose Xcel Energy’s proposal to increase rates to pay for natural gas infrastructure, saying it would hinder long-term decarbonization efforts. (Colorado Sun)
• A New Mexico electric cooperative makes the final payment on a $37 million fee to exit its contract with Tri-State Generation and Transmission.
(news release)

OIL & GAS:
• Navajo Nation officials say a pipeline operator has stopped an oil and wastewater spill from reaching a tributary of the San Juan River and continues to clean up the site. (Associated Press)
• New Mexico officials predict a multi-billion dollar state budget surplus next year, driven mostly by increasing oil and gas revenues. (Associated Press)
• A peer-reviewed study finds children living near unconventional oil and gas wells at birth are up to three times more likely to later develop leukemia. (Guardian)

SOLAR: A public hearing on a proposal to construct a 1,000 MW solar power facility on 9,500 acres of public land in southeastern Arizona draws few attendees. (Eastern Arizona Courier)

NUCLEAR: The startup planning to build an advanced nuclear reactor in a Wyoming coal town raises $750 million to fund its effort, but still must find a fuel source now that Russian imports are not an option. (Canary Media)

URANIUM: A poll finds a majority of likely Arizona voters from both parties support a permanent ban on uranium mining near the Grand Canyon. (Grist)

LITHIUM: The developer of a controversial proposed lithium mine in Nevada says mining-related provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act will boost the industry. (E&E News)

TRANSPORTATION: A new tool developed by the California Energy Commission shows there are nearly 2,000 electric buses, trucks and delivery vans on the state’s roads. (news release)

GRID:
• More than 2,500 members of a Tesla virtual power plant in California sent battery power back to the grid this week during the program’s first emergency response event. (Electrek)
• Municipally owned Colorado Springs Utilities joins the Southwest Power Pool’s energy imbalance service market. (Public Power)

COMMENTARY:
• A New Mexico columnist says a petroleum lobbying group’s attempt to reverse new oil and gas pollution rules could harm Permian Basin residents’ health if successful. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)
• A California editorial board says a ballot measure that would tax the wealthy to fund electric vehicle subsidies would disproportionately benefit ride-sharing firm Lyft. (East Bay Times)