Colorado county denies Xcel Energy’s Power Pathway project

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GRID

• An eastern Colorado county’s commissioners vote to deny permits for Xcel Energy’s Power Pathway transmission project following opposition from ranchers and other landowners. (Colorado Sun)

• Southern California Edison plans to underground and upgrade 63 miles of electrical infrastructure in the Los Angeles-area fire-damaged Altadena neighborhood to support electrification in rebuilt homes. (Pasadena Now)

• California officials say a smart EV charging pilot program shows how dynamic price signals and automated management can improve grid stability, lower energy cost, and boost renewables. (Public Power Now)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• A federal judge temporarily blocks the Trump administration from withholding electric vehicle charging infrastructure funds from 14 states, including California and Washington. (Reuters)

STORAGE

• SolarEdge Technologies begins assembling its residential battery energy storage systems at a Utah facility. (Solar Power World)

• Averon brings its 200 MW Peregrine battery energy storage project online in San Diego. (Solar Power World)

• Prevalon brings its 80 MW battery energy storage system online in Nampa, Idaho. (Utility Dive)

CLEAN ENERGY

• Washington state officials vote to approve a site certification agreement for Cypress Creek’s proposed 160 MW Carriger solar project. (news release)

• Rural Wyoming counties work to fashion land-use regulations for utility-scale solar and wind installations on private lands. (Cowboy State Daily)

ELECTRIFICATION

• Oregon’s energy department launches a $2,000 rebate program to incentivize residents’ electric heat pump purchases. (OPB)

PUBLIC LANDS

• The Trump administration appoints Colorado Oil and Gas Association executive Bill Groffy as the federal Bureau of Land Management’s principal deputy director. (E&E News)

• U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum touts public lands’ role in achieving ​“energy dominance” at the Western Governors’ Association meeting in Santa Fe. (Aspen Times)

GEOTHERMAL

• The Clean Air Task Force urges California to boost next-generation geothermal technology in the state by streamlining permitting, modernizing regulations, and identifying the most viable development sites. (news release)

TRANSPORTATION

• Colorado’s largest transit agency votes to explore developing passenger rail along the state’s densely populated Front Range. (Reporter-Herald)

• Washington state economists say a gasoline tax increase and other new fees will bring in about $6.8 billion more than previously estimated to fund road and other transportation projects. (Spokesman-Review)

• Democratic Oregon lawmakers scale back legislation that would have increased the gasoline tax and levy a tax on car sales to fund transportation following bipartisan opposition. (OPB)

CLIMATE

• Democratic California lawmakers introduce legislation that would cap the state’s low-carbon fuels market prices in an effort to dampen rising gasoline prices. (E&E News)

COMMENTARY

• An Alaska Native Village official urges Congress to preserve federal clean energy tax credits, saying eliminating them would endanger community solar projects and energy sovereignty. (Anchorage Daily News)

NEW FROM CANARY

• Advocates say Massachusetts’ newly revamped solar incentive program will help ensure the industry survives the proposed gutting of federal tax credits, Sarah Shemkus reports.

• California advocates partner with utility PG&E to electrify entire neighborhoods so their gas access can be cut off together, saving time and money, Twilight Greenaway reports.