Feds pause Nevada lithium, geothermal projects over wildlife concerns

GEOTHERMAL: Federal land managers rescind their approval and launch a new review of the proposed Dixie Meadows geothermal project in Nevada after a toad that lives on the site receives endangered species protections. (Nevada Current)

ALSO: Pasadena, California, agrees to purchase 25 MW of geothermal power from a facility in the northern part of the state. (Pasadena Star-News)

LITHIUM: The federal Bureau of Land Management pauses proposed exploratory lithium drilling near a Nevada wildlife refuge following environmental opposition and launches a full environmental review of the project. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

OIL & GAS:
• Navajo Nation advocates clash with tribal leaders during a U.S. House committee hearing on Republican legislation that would rescind an oil and gas leasing ban around Chaco Culture National Historical Park. (Cronkite News)
• A California county agrees to relax some of its oil and gas land-use rules while preserving drilling setbacks to settle litigation brought by the industry. (Ventura County Star)
• New Mexico regulators consider regulating the oil and gas industry’s use of PFAS following calls from environmentalists to ban the ​“forever chemicals.” (Santa Fe New Mexican)
• A federal court considers a California commercial fishermen’s lawsuit accusing two shipping companies of contributing to a 25,000-gallon crude oil pipeline spill off the southern coast of the state. (Seafood Source)
• Officials in the Permian Basin acknowledge oil and gas development has caused an uptick in earthquakes, but say the industry’s economic benefits outweigh its seismic impacts. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)

WIND: Construction begins on the second phase of a 454 MW wind power facility on a working cattle ranch in northern Arizona. (Arizona Republic)

ELECTRIFICATION: Oregon lawmakers adopt a goal of installing 500,000 heat pumps in residential and commercial buildings by 2030. (Utility Dive)
(FOX13)

TRANSPORTATION: Utah’s transportation department plans to reduce traffic congestion on a route to a ski area by upgrading the busing system, restricting single occupancy vehicles and building an eight mile-long gondola. (Deseret News)

UTILITIES:
• Nevada regulators approve NV Energy’s plan to temporarily reduce rates to offset utility bill hikes during the hottest months of summer. (Las Vegas Sun)
• Rocky Mountain Power asks regulators to allow it potentially to pass on Oregon wildfire costs to Idaho customers. (Idaho Capital Sun)

HYDROPOWER: California conservationists raise concerns about a pumped hydropower storage facility proposed for the Sonoma coast. (Press Democrat)

COMMENTARY:
• A California editorial board calls on Los Angeles officials to require cooling equipment in rental housing that could save lives during extreme heat events. (Los Angeles Times)
• A California energy journalist ponders the benefits and drawbacks of keeping the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant running as he tours the facility. (Los Angeles Times)