Hawaii climate misinformation lawsuit headed for trial

CLIMATE: Hawaii’s Supreme Court rejects oil companies’ bid to toss out Honolulu’s climate misinformation suit, clearing the way for the case to proceed to trial. (Bloomberg Law)

ALSO:

• Colorado energy officials predict the state’s electric power sector can cut greenhouse gas emissions by 98.5% by 2040 without major policy changes or significant consumer cost increases. (Colorado Sun)
• Montana regulators seek public suggestions for shovel-ready projects to incorporate into a federally funded climate pollution reduction plan. (NBC Montana)

OIL & GAS: 

• New Mexico’s U.S. senators and advocates call on the Biden administration to finalize proposed oil and gas regulations before holding more federal lease sales. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)
• Southern California’s oil and gas industry launches a public relations campaign to push back against efforts to end drilling in the state. (Bakersfield Californian)
• A conservative advocacy group files a legal challenge against the Biden administration for allegedly failing to disclose information about Arctic National Wildlife Refuge oil and gas leases. (Center Square)
• California environmentalists file an appeal challenging Glendale’s gas plant expansion approval, saying the city inflated its reserve obligations to justify the upgrade. (news release)

CARBON CAPTURE: A company plans to lease 22,000 acres in the Permian Basin to sequester carbon captured from oil and gas operations. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)

WIND:

• California regulators begin to review a proposed wind power facility in the northern part of the state that county officials rejected twice. (Record-Searchlight)
• Wyoming lawmakers advance legislation that would make it more difficult for developers to use eminent domain to acquire land for wind energy projects. (Cowboy State Daily)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: New Mexico regulators begin considering how to implement rules aimed at achieving 100% electric and zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035. (KUNM)

COAL:

• Federal regulators begin reviewing whether Montana laws relaxing regulations on coal mines comply with national standards. (Montana Standard)
• The Biden administration awards $10 million to Colorado for reclaiming abandoned mines and promoting economic development in former coal communities. (The Hill)

HYDROGEN:

• Navajo Nation advocates push back on a proposed blue hydrogen production facility and pipeline in New Mexico, saying it could further strain the region’s sparse water supplies. (ICT)
• Developers of a proposed Northwest hydrogen production and distribution hub begin working on how to spend $1 billion in federal funding. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION:

• San Diego area governments allocate $643 million for transportation projects, including a direct transit link to the regional international airport. (Fox 5)
• Colorado mountain towns consider establishing commuter rail service along a freight line that went dormant in 1997. (Colorado Newsline)