Colorado lawmakers look to tighten air pollution rules

POLLUTION: Colorado lawmakers introduce legislation that would tighten new greenhouse gas emissions rules for large industrial sites and expand the state’s air quality regulatory board. (CPR)

ALSO: Utah lawmakers introduce legislation aimed at making it easier for the state to flout federal pollution regulations. (Salt Lake Tribune, subscription)

CLEAN ENERGY:

• New Mexico regulators say a recently passed package of tax credits will help prop up clean energy and expand lower-income residents’ access to rooftop solar. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)
• A national laboratory works with a California oil-producing county to train residents for clean energy jobs. (news release)

SOLAR:

• The Biden administration awards Arizona nonprofit Native Renewables $8 million to install off-grid solar-plus-battery storage systems in Navajo and Hopi homes. (KNAU)
• California rooftop solar companies say the state’s cuts to net metering compensation are harming the industry. (Spectrum News)

UTILITIES: A Colorado electric cooperative predicts it will obtain 90% of its power from renewable sources by 2025. (Vail Daily)

OIL & GAS: 

• A Colorado county increases petroleum production even after adopting relatively strict oil and gas regulations and launching its own frequent inspections of facilities. (Colorado Sun)
• California advocates say the petroleum industry’s reaction to cities banning new gasoline stations is a badge of honor that validates their activism. (Grist)
• New Mexico regulators begin implementing a recently passed severance tax exemption for low-producing oil and gas wells that is expected to cost the state about $9.7 million annually. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Oregon lawmakers advance a bill that would ban people under 16 years old from riding electric bicycles. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

BATTERIES: The first phase of a $1 billion lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility under construction in Arizona is expected to employ about 1,250 people when it is completed later this year. (Arizona Republic)

CLIMATE: Montana advocates, residents and businesses urge regulators to consider the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change in gas and electric utility regulation. (Daily Montanan)

GEOTHERMAL: Energy startup Fervo secures $244 million in financing to support its 400 MW enhanced geothermal facility under construction in western Utah. (news release)

COMMENTARY:

• California advocates say Pacific Gas & Electric is exacerbating the state’s housing shortage with delays in connecting new homes to its power grid. (San Francisco Chronicle)
• The developer of a proposed pumped hydropower storage project on the Navajo Nation that was rejected by federal regulators says it was the victim of a last-minute policy shift. (Navajo Times)