Google goes in big on Nevada geothermal

GEOTHERMAL: Google agrees to purchase about 112 MW of enhanced geothermal-generated electricity from NV Energy to power its Nevada data centers. (Reuters)

SOLAR: An Arizona city plans to install 3 MW of solar capacity over 660 parking spaces at municipal facilities. (Mesa Tribune)

GRID:

• California awards a distributed energy management firm $1.5 million to expand virtual power plant enrollment to include thermostats, electric vehicles and residential battery storage. (Renewable Energy World)
• The California grid operator’s board approves a proposal aimed at streamlining the interconnection process to help address an ​“unprecedented volume” of connection requests. (RTO Insider, subscription)

WIND: A developer begins site investigation surveys for its proposed 1,600 MW Canopy offshore wind farm off northern California’s coast. (Windpower)

UTILITIES:

• Arizona regulators exempt a proposed 200 MW natural gas plant expansion in the western part of the state from a mandatory environmental review. (12 News)
• Los Angeles uses about $253 million in federal funds to help income-qualified residents pay overdue utility bills. (City News Service)

OIL & GAS: 

• Environmental advocates petition the federal government to reconsider the Trans-Alaska crude oil pipeline’s climate impacts and to begin planning for its removal. (Alaska Public Media)
• New Mexico advocates call on a state water quality regulator to recuse herself from decisions related to oil and gas wastewater reuse, alleging a conflict of interest due to her employment at a petroleum firm. (Source NM)
• Federal analysts predict Permian Basin oil production will climb about 8% this year, leading to record-high domestic outputs. (E&E News, subscription)

TRANSPORTATION:

• California regulators say a delayed U.S. EPA waiver has forced them to allow over 1,000 diesel trucks to skirt their ban on fossil fuel-powered big rigs serving ports. (Los Angeles Times)
• A Colorado transit district considers asking voters to permanently allow it to keep revenue that would otherwise be refunded to taxpayers under state law. (CPR)

CLIMATE:

• A federal judge sends an Oregon county’s lawsuit against oil companies over their alleged contributions to climate change back to a state court. (Hoodline)
• Montana residents, businesses and advocates petition a court to force utility regulators to formally consider or deny their request to include climate change in decision-making. (Daily Montanan)

DIVESTMENT: Advocates urge California’s public employee pension fund to limit its investments in ExxonMobil after the company sued climate-advocate shareholders. (E&E News, subscription)

COAL: Right-wing Wyoming lawmakers call for a special session to fight the Biden administration’s proposal to end new federal coal leasing in the Powder River Basin. (Cowboy State Daily)

NUCLEAR: A Wyoming community college receives $2.4 million in state funds to develop a nuclear technology program to support a proposed advanced reactor at a retiring coal plant. (Douglas Budget)

MINING: Conservation groups prepare to sue the U.S. Forest Service for allegedly violating federal law when approving a copper mine’s expansion in central Arizona. (news release)