Nevada launches $156 million Solar for All program

SOLAR: Nevada’s Clean Energy Fund looks to begin distributing $156 million in federal funds to multifamily affordable housing and community solar projects that would benefit low-income and disadvantaged households. (Nevada Current)

ALSO:

• Developers bring the 300 MW Quartzite solar-plus-storage project online on federal land in southern California. (news release)
• Developers bring the 364 MW Atrisco solar-plus-storage project online in central New Mexico. (news release)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• The U.S. Supreme Court rejects conservative states’ constitutional challenge to California’s stronger-than-federal automobile emissions standards, but leaves open the door for the oil and gas industry’s lawsuit seeking to block the regulations. (Los Angeles Times)
• President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team recommends slashing federal electric-vehicle and charging-infrastructure incentives and blocking California from setting stronger-than-federal automobile pollution limits. (Reuters)

OIL & GAS: 

• Colorado regulators consider a proposed rule requiring about 40 natural gas companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or pay into a carbon credit trading system. (Denver Post)
• An advocacy group files a lawsuit seeking to block Long Beach, California’s approval of a proposed crude oil storage facility at its shipping port, saying it could pollute nearby communities. (news release)
• The Biden administration allocates another $109.6 million to plug and reclaim 484 orphaned oil and gas wells on public lands and waters in 13 states. (news release)

CLIMATE: California regulators plan to delay enforcing the state’s new greenhouse gas emissions disclosure law to allow companies more time to transition to full compliance. (Utility Dive)

CLEAN ENERGY: Advocates say the clean energy and transmission development surge on federal lands in Nevada and neighboring states amounts to ​“a fundamental transformation of the American West.” (Inside Climate News/​Type Investigations)

GRID: California’s grid operator says increased battery energy storage capacity helped it meet rising power demand this summer even though gas generation declined. (RTO Insider, subscription)

COMMENTARY:

• Colorado advocates urge state officials to invest in the growing carbon removal industry, saying it could create thousands of jobs in rural communities while fighting climate change. (Colorado Newsline)
• A Utah economic development official calls on state leaders to advocate for nuclear power development to help meet the manufacturing sector’s growing energy demands. (Deseret News)
• A California researcher calls on Gov. Gavin Newsom to close the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility, saying the state can meet growing power demand without fossil fuels. (Los Angeles Times)