Los Angeles County sues utility over Eaton Fire

This roundup of energy news headlines comes from our Western Energy News newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each morning.

UTILITIES

• Los Angeles County files a lawsuit against Southern California Edison, alleging the utility’s equipment sparked the deadly Eaton Fire and seeking to recover related damages. (Associated Press)

SOLAR

• California regulators propose slashing net metering compensation for legacy rooftop solar installations in an effort to tackle utility rate hikes, sparking pushback from advocates and the clean energy industry. (Canary Media)

• A developer begins construction on a 2,000 MW solar-plus-storage installation at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington state. (New York Times)

• Utah lawmakers pass legislation that would allow certified plug-in ​“balcony” solar systems. (PV Magazine)

• The U.S. EPA says it has unfrozen Solar for All funding, but a New Mexico expert warns the situation is ​“fluid” and says the state may not get the $156 million it was promised. (New Mexico Political Report)

• Oregon lawmakers consider legislation that would encourage siting solar installations in the unirrigated corners of farm fields. (Capital Press)

TRANSPORTATION

• California transportation officials warn lawmakers that declining gasoline tax revenues could lead to budget shortfalls and imperil public transit and infrastructure maintenance and expansions. (Fresno Bee)

• New Mexico partners with a private firm to facilitate electrification of state vehicles and school buses. (PV Magazine)

• An Oregon lawmaker introduces a bill that would levy a tax on automobile tire sales to fund public transit and highway wildlife crossings. (Oregonian)

CLIMATE

• Oregon agencies say they again have access to $450 million in federal climate program funding in limbo after the Trump administration had frozen and unfrozen it. (OPB)

• A federal judge rules that an insurance firm must defend an oil company against Hawaii counties’ lawsuits seeking to hold the firm accountable for climate change’s effects. (Business Insurance)

NUCLEAR

• Oregon lawmakers consider exempting one county from a nuclear power development ban to allow it to build a small modular reactor, sparking pushback from tribal nations and advocates. (OPB)

• Oregon nuclear startup NuScale says it anticipates receiving federal approval for its 77 MW small modular reactor this year, but has yet to finalize deals to provide power to data centers or other customers. (Utility Dive)

• Idaho National Laboratory researchers say they have developed a fuel for the world’s first critical fast-spectrum molten salt nuclear reactor. (news release)

GEOTHERMAL

• The federal Bureau of Land Management approves a proposed 20 MW geothermal energy development in southwest Utah. (news release)

COMMENTARY

• A libertarian think tank urges New Mexico lawmakers to establish a permanent fund dividend that would distribute a portion of oil and gas revenues to residents. (National Review)