Colorado electric vehicle sales climb

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Colorado advocates say a recent increase in electric vehicle sales shows state and federal incentives are working as intended. (Colorado Sun)

ALSO:

• Advocates hope Elon Musk’s alliance with President-elect Donald Trump will insulate California’s electric vehicle regulations from the administration’s attacks. (Heatmap)
• Hawaii’s transportation department brings a federally funded four-unit electric vehicle charging station online in Honolulu. (Spectrum News)

OVERSIGHT: California prepares to defend its climate and environmental laws against the incoming Trump administration’s likely challenges. (CalMatters)

CLIMATE: A report predicts Colorado will fall short of its greenhouse gas-reduction goals for 2025 and 2030, but the gap is smaller than in previous forecasts. (Denver Post)

MINING:

• A court opens hearings on environmental lawsuits challenging a southern California county’s approval of a proposed geothermal-lithium extraction project near the Salton Sea. (KPBS)
• Rio Tinto executives urge the incoming Trump administration to streamline federal permitting for mining projects and expedite the firm’s proposed Resolution copper facility in Arizona. (Seeking Alpha)

OIL & GAS: Wyoming’s oil and gas industry expects the incoming Trump administration and Republican-dominated Senate to loosen federal drilling regulations. (Cowboy State Daily)

STORAGE: Pacific Gas & Electric agrees to purchase 500 MW of power from two standalone battery energy storage systems in southern California. (Energy Storage News, subscription)

SOLAR: Arizona Public Service signs on to purchase power from a proposed 600 MW solar-plus-storage installation in the northern part of the state. (Solar Industry)

WIND: California awards the West Coast’s floating offshore wind industry nearly $38 million for research aimed at increasing efficiency and reducing costs. (RTO Insider, subscription)

UTILITIES:

• A New Mexico committee recommends Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham consider appointing four candidates to the state utility regulatory commission. (New Mexico Political Report)
• Idaho regulators seek public input on the state’s largest utility’s proposed rate hike aimed at recovering infrastructure and labor costs. (Idaho Capital Sun)

COMMENTARY:

• A California regulator urges his colleagues to reject proposed low carbon fuel standard amendments, saying they would disproportionately harm disadvantaged communities. (CalMatters)
• A Colorado advocate calls on the Biden administration to quickly finalize hydrogen production tax credit regulations to help states attract investment aimed at decarbonizing industries. (Colorado Sun)
• An Alaska advocate urges lawmakers to modify, but not repeal, the state’s oil production tax law to ensure it continues to benefit residents in the future. (Alaska Beacon)