Investigators: Maui wildfire sparked by re-energized downed line

UTILITIES: Hawaii investigators deem last year’s deadly Maui wildfire ​“accidental,” saying it was sparked when Hawaiian Electric re-energized a downed utility line. (Maui Now)

COAL: The federal Bureau of Land Management rejects protests seeking to block the agency’s proposed ban on new coal leases in the Powder River Basin. (WyoFile)

OIL & GAS: 

• California regulators fine a troubled Bay Area refinery $5 million for 59 air quality violations over a four year period. (Mercury News)
• California advocates call on regulators to review a proposal to restart an offshore oil pipeline that ruptured in 2015 and require the operator to further mitigate spill risks. (Offshore Energy)

SOLAR:

• A southern California county approves a proposed 80 MW solar-plus-battery storage facility on private land. (Calexico Chronicle)
• The federal Bureau of Land Management looks to lease a 937-acre parcel in southern New Mexico for solar development. (news release)

CLIMATE: A report finds Phoenix has successfully implemented some aspects of its climate action plan, but a lack of goal-alignment with state lawmakers has hampered further progress. (Arizona Republic)

BIOFUELS: Developers begin operations at a northern California facility that converts landfill gas into methane to power a co-located electric plant. (news release)

HYDROPOWER: A contractor completes the removal of four hydroelectric dams on the lower Klamath River in California and Oregon, giving fish free run of the stream for the first time in over a century. (Hydro Review)

LITHIUM: Utah advocates criticize state regulators for approving a lithium mining company’s contested water right application shortly after the firm donated $10,000 to Gov. Spencer Cox’s re-election campaign. (Salt Lake Tribune)

GRID:

• An interstate commission proposes a regional board to oversee the Western energy imbalance and extended day-ahead power markets. (Utility Dive)
• Federal regulators approve the California grid operator’s proposed generator interconnection plan despite pushback from the clean energy industry. (Utility Dive)
• The U.S. Energy Department awards developers up to $352 million to help fund a proposed 108-mile high-voltage transmission project in New Mexico. (RTO Insider, subscription)

EFFICIENCY:

• The U.S. Energy Department awards Oregon $113 million for a home efficiency-upgrade rebate program targeting low to moderate-income households. (OPB)
• The Biden administration awards more than $40 million to fund home efficiency and climate resiliency upgrades in several Western states. (news release)

TRANSPORTATION: Washington officials say the effort to convert the state’s diesel ferry system to hybrid-electric is facing delays due to the complexity of the project. (KIRO)