Colorado tackles oil and gas drilling’s cumulative impacts

OIL & GAS: Colorado regulators pass rules aimed at addressing oil and gas drilling’s cumulative impacts, but lawmakers and advocates say they do not adequately protect vulnerable communities. (Colorado Sun)

CLIMATE:

• Alaska officials urge a court to dismiss youth advocates’ lawsuit alleging a state-sponsored proposed liquefied natural gas pipeline and export terminal would exacerbate climate change. (Alaska Public Media)
• Republican California lawmakers urge regulators to delay proposed carbon market changes aimed at reducing emissions, saying they could lead to higher gasoline prices. (Los Angeles Times)

SOLAR:

• Southern California residents push county and federal officials to require solar developers to mitigate proposed projects’ potential impacts on views and other development. (Inside Climate News)
• Colorado industry officials criticize Xcel Energy for blocking rooftop solar customers from connecting to the grid, and say planned transmission upgrades won’t solve the problem. (Westword)
• Albuquerque’s mayor says two solar manufacturing facilities planned for the city could transform central New Mexico, but acknowledged they may not come to fruition. (Albuquerque Journal)
• The federal Bureau of Land Management seeks public input on the proposed 250 MW Dodge Flats solar installation in Nevada. (Well News)

GEOTHERMAL: An enhanced geothermal energy project under development in southwest Utah boosts the region’s economy following the collapse of its pig farming industry. (KUER)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• A startup announces plans to build a Reno, Nevada, ​“gigafactory” to produce lithium-sulfur batteries for electric vehicles, with backing from automaker Stellantis. (Reuters)
• A California university installs off-grid, solar-powered electric vehicle chargers to power its maintenance fleet. (Solar Power World)

UTILITIES:

• Hawaii regulators step up their probe into a utility’s role in sparking the deadly 2023 Maui wildfires, building on a state and federal investigation’s findings. (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)
• Montana regulators reject a utility’s proposed rate hike, saying it would exacerbate customers’ winter ​“sticker shock.” (Daily Montanan)
• Pacific Gas & Electric warns northern California customers that elevated wildfire hazard could lead to public safety power shutoffs this week. (KCRA)
• California advocates criticize Pacific Gas & Electric for burying power lines, saying the utility is choosing the costliest wildfire hazard mitigation method to boost profits. (Sacramento Bee)

GRID: Arizona regulators require utilities to analyze potential costs and benefits of participating in Western power markets. (RTO Insider, subscription)

EFFICIENCY: California expands its home energy efficiency financing program that helps fund utility customers’ electric heat pumps, solar panels and other upgrades. (news release)

COMMENTARY: A California columnist worries extending endangered species protections to burrowing owls could slow clean energy development in the state. (Los Angeles Times)