GM to invest $650 million in Nevada lithium mine

LITHIUM: General Motors conditionally agrees to invest $650 million in the developer of the proposed Thacker Pass Mine in Nevada, giving the auto company exclusive access to the mine’s first batch of lithium. (Associated Press)

GRID:
• Allete and Grid United propose constructing a high-voltage DC transmission line from North Dakota to Montana that would link the Eastern and Western grids. (Utility Dive)
• New Mexico researchers work to develop computer models enabling grid operators to quickly perform ​“black starts,” or restore power after full outages. (news release)

OIL & GAS:
• Scientists say a five-mile long methane cloud spotted by satellites over Wyoming last month may have been caused by a natural gas facility venting the gas after a malfunction. (Bloomberg)
• California Gov. Gavin Newsom renews calls for a gas price gouging penalty after Chevron and ExxonMobil post record annual profits. (Washington Post)
• Alaska officials predict the Cook Inlet’s natural gas fields can satisfy statewide demand for about four more years without new drilling. (KDLL)
• A financial analyst finds New Mexico could face a $36 billion budget deficit by the mid 2030s if lawmakers don’t diversify the economy and reduce reliance on oil and gas tax revenues. (Albuquerque Journal)
• The U.S. Interior Department releases guidance on how states can apply for $500 million in federal funding for plugging and cleaning up orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells. (news release)

NATURAL GAS:
• Montana lawmakers consider a bill that would preemptively block local governments from banning energy sources such as natural gas hookups. (States Newsroom)
• California regulators schedule a public hearing to examine the drivers of this winter’s high natural gas prices and determine ways to mitigate the impacts. (news release)

CRYPTOCURRENCY: Washington state and Oregon lawmakers consider bills that seek to limit carbon emissions from cryptocurrency miners’ power consumption. (Crosscut)

CLEAN ENERGY: A progressive think tank estimates last year’s federal climate law will create 92,000 clean energy and efficiency jobs in the Mountain West over the coming decade. (KUNC)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Details of Nevada’s tax breaks for Tesla’s $3.6 billion factory expansion will remain secret until late February under a non-disclosure agreement between the state and company. (Associated Press)
• Oregon utility Pacific Power awards $2 million to communities for programs encouraging electric vehicle and e-bike adoption. (KTVZ)

TRANSPORTATION: California’s transportation department seeks volunteers from rural and tribal communities to test a road fee system based on miles driven rather than the amount of fuel used. (news release)

SOLAR:
• A former California executive is sentenced to more than six years in prison and fined nearly $620 million for his role in a mobile solar generator fraud scheme. (Associated Press)
• Colorado rooftop solar customers and installers accuse Xcel Energy of delaying solar connections to avoid losing money, but the utility says it’s backed up due to high demand. (CBS Colorado)