Hydropower could turn Washington mill town into cryptocurrency hub

CRYPTOCURRENCY: A California investment firm plans to use inexpensive hydropower to convert a Washington state paper mill town into a cryptocurrency mining hub. (Union-Bulletin)

WIND: California environmentalists and members of the Northern Chumash Tribe oppose developers’ plans to install eight offshore wind turbines in a proposed Central Coast marine sanctuary. (Los Angeles Times)

CLEAN ENERGY: The U.S. Energy Department awards $9 million to Indigenous tribal nations in Western states for renewable energy projects. (Associated Press)

SOLAR: Hawaiian Electric seeks small-scale, shared community solar project proposals. (Maui News)

HYDROGEN: California environmental justice advocates say hydrogen fuel can play a climate change-fighting role in some applications, but should not be used as an excuse to block electrification efforts. (Los Angeles Times)

OIL & GAS:
• Chevron sues the state of California for rejecting hydraulic fracturing applications for over a year, saying it constitutes an unlawful de facto ban. (KGET)
• A Montana state oil and gas lease sale nets the highest per-acre prices since the 2014 Bakken oil boom. (Montana Standard)
• Wyoming environmental advocates urge regulators to revoke an oil and gas company’s drilling permit over wastewater discharges into streams. (WyoFile)
• New Mexico environmental advocates say the state legislature’s structure gives oil and gas lobbyists outsized influence. (Capital & Main)

UTILITIES: California lawmakers consider a bill that would require Pacific Gas & Electric to expedite the burial of power lines in fire-prone areas. (Press-Democrat)

GRID: Oregon farmers and landowners oppose a utility’s plan to acquire easements for a $22 million power line project. (Tillamook Headlight-Herald)

TRANSPORTATION: A northern California transit agency plans to use an $8.5 million federal grant to purchase eight electric buses. (Napa Valley Register)

NUCLEAR:
• TerraPower, the Bill Gates-backed company planning to build an advanced nuclear reactor in Wyoming, ramps up efforts to produce reactor fuel amid calls for a ban on Russian uranium imports. (WyoFile)
• Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon signs a bill streamlining nuclear reactor siting regulations and exempting nuclear facilities from state taxes. (Oil City News)
• Alaska lawmakers advance a bill that would streamline the state’s nuclear microreactor approval process. (KTOO)

CLIMATE: California officials reevaluate the state’s greenhouse gas cap and trade program amid claims it fails to reduce and may even increase pollution in disadvantaged communities. (Los Angeles Times)

COMMENTARY:
• A California geologist and an energy policy expert say geothermal projects at the Salton Sea could provide baseload power and solve the lithium supply crunch with adequate policy support. (The Conversation)
• A New Mexico editorial board urges lawmakers to consider paying out oil and gas dividends to state residents. (Albuquerque Journal)