Colorado looks to cut ozone by pausing drilling, restricting driving

POLLUTION: Colorado lawmakers introduce a suite of bills aimed at reducing ozone pollution that would pause summer oil and gas drilling, restrict gasoline-fueled automobile traffic and increase fines for polluters. (Colorado Sun)

COAL: As cases of black lung surge on the Navajo Nation, a study finds Indigenous coal miners are less likely to receive federal benefits. (Rocky Mountain PBS)

OIL & GAS: 

• Colorado landowners file a lawsuit accusing oil and gas companies of using fraudulent transfers to dodge their responsibility for cleaning up non-producing wells. (news release)
• The Biden administration allocates $50 million for plugging and remediating orphaned oil and gas wells in national parks, forests and wildlife refuges. (news release)

STORAGE:

• Sunrun says its home battery sales have surged since California slashed net metering compensation for rooftop solar. (Bloomberg)
• A developer begins construction on a utility-scale green hydrogen-plus-battery long duration storage system in California. (Solar Power World)

UTILITIES:

• Washington state lawmakers propose offering low- and moderate-income residents a $200 utility bill rebate to offset fuel costs blamed on a new carbon cap-and-invest program. (Crosscut)
• An Alaska utility looks to reduce its reliance on natural gas generation while also scrapping a goal to reach 50% renewable energy by 2025. (KDLL)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: A California nonprofit plans to launch an electric bicycle voucher program for low-income residents this spring. (inewsource)

SOLAR:

• Arizona regulators approve a utility’s proposed monthly surcharge on customers with rooftop solar. (Arizona Republic)
• A developer secures $1 billion in financing for a 150 MW solar-plus-storage project under construction in Kern County, California. (Energy Storage News)

WIND: California lawmakers raise concerns about a recently approved long-term energy plan that downgrades offshore wind targets. (Politico)

CLIMATE: The University of Arizona delays implementing its new climate plan, citing a $177 million budget deficit. (Grist)

HYDROPOWER: Alaska utilities move forward with a plan to alter a hydropower dam even though local officials asked them to pause the project to consider possible impacts. (Anchorage Daily News)

URANIUM:

• Utah Indigenous advocates push back on state lawmakers’ proposal to incentivize mining for uranium and other critical materials, saying it prioritizes private interests over public health. (Salt Lake Tribune)
• An Arizona county calls for the closure of a uranium mine near the Grand Canyon, saying it could contaminate groundwater. (KNAU)