Colorado falling short of emissions targets

CLIMATE: Colorado officials say the state is projected to fall short of its 2025 and 2030 targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. (Colorado Sun)

ALSO:
• Federal data show the carbon intensity of electricity produced in Washington, Oregon and Idaho increased between 2016 and 2020. (Capital Press)
• Experts say $9.7 billion in the federal Inflation Reduction Act to help rural co-ops adopt clean energy will be transformative for reducing emissions. (Daily Yonder)
• A three-way race for governor in Oregon could put the state’s ambitious climate policies at risk. (E&E News, subscription)

COAL:
• The city of Farmington, New Mexico, will attempt to take over a retiring coal plant in an effort to keep it open; the utility that currently owns it says that isn’t allowed under their exit agreement. (Farmington Daily Times)
• Officials in a rural Colorado town explore options to avoid becoming a ​“ghost town” as fossil fuels are phased out. (Colorado Public Radio)

OIL & GAS:
• California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs a bill requiring a 3,200-foot buffer between new oil wells and parks, homes, and schools. (E&E News)
• State data shows high-quality water in drought-stricken California is being diverted from residential and agricultural use to crude oil extraction. (Inside Climate News)

TRANSPORTATION: The EPA declares Denver and Colorado’s northern Front Range as ​“severe” air quality violators, which will require drivers to use a more expensive gasoline blend to reduce emissions. (Denver Post, subscription)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Advocates and state agencies in Oregon are working to make electric vehicle charging more accessible in rural and low-income areas. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
• As conservative media question whether mass adoption of electric vehicles will strain the grid, experts note that they can provide an important demand-management function. (E&E News)
• A Colorado company has developed a teardrop camping trailer that includes a range-extending battery for electric vehicles. (Inside EVs)

NUCLEAR: As Western utilities explore small modular reactors, questions remain over whether the facilities will produce more nuclear waste than conventional power plants. (Crosscut)

HYDROGEN: Two California utilities seek permission from state regulators to test hydrogen in natural gas infrastructure. (Smart Energy International)

GEOTHERMAL: Experts say geothermal power can help states meet clean energy goals, but scaling up will require government support. (Colorado Newsline)

UTILITIES: A Puerto Rican company says Idaho Power’s policy creating a separate customer class for cryptocurrency data operations is discriminatory. (Idaho Statesman)

BIOENERGY: As California spends millions to encourage biodigesters at dairy farms, little is known about the scale and impact of ammonia that is a byproduct of the process. (Inside Climate News)