New Mexicans push private equity out of their utilities

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UTILITIES

• New Mexico residents and advocates push back on private equity firm Blackstone’s proposal to acquire the state’s largest utility, saying it would harm ratepayers by enabling data center construction rather than supplying affordable power. (American Prospect)

• New Mexico’s attorney general opposes private equity group Bernhard Capital Partners’ proposed takeover of the state’s largest natural gas provider. (Santa Fe New Mexican)

• Oregon gas utility NW Natural’s plan to blend hydrogen and biofuels into its distribution system is thrown into doubt after potential fuel suppliers close and restructure. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

NUCLEAR

• California’s Coastal Commission greenlights Pacific Gas & Electric’s land conservation plans related to its Diablo Canyon nuclear plant, clearing the way for federal licensing that would allow the facility to operate for another two decades. (Los Angeles Times, Politico)

DATA CENTERS

• Creekstone Energy considers adding nuclear power to its energy mix to run its planned 10 GW, 20-million-square-foot data center complex near Delta, Utah. (KSL)

• Colorado utilities and regulators explore ways to ensure existing customers aren’t forced to foot the bill for new data center-driven infrastructure upgrades. (Colorado Sun)

• Northern Arizona residents file a referendum aimed at reversing the Page City Council’s decision to sell 500 acres for a proposed 1,000 MW data center and associated power generation. (Corner Post)

ELECTRIFICATION

• California’s utility regulators’ Public Advocacy Office finds EV and heat pump adoption could decrease electricity rates if necessary infrastructure upgrades are done efficiently. (PV Magazine)

• San Jose, California’s city council votes to allocate $100,000 to incentivize local contractors to install electric heat pumps in homes, but backs down from banning gas-powered leaf blowers. (San Jose Spotlight)

CLEAN ENERGY

• Industry observers criticize Utah’s Republican-dominated legislature for throwing up barriers to solar and wind development, even though Gov. Spencer Cox publicly advocates for an ​“any of the above” energy approach. (ProPublica)

• A Wyoming judge strikes down the Pronghorn H2 hydrogen project’s state land lease for its wind power facility. (Wyoming Tribune Eagle)

OIL & GAS

• Colorado regulators vote to delay approving a proposed 32-well oil and gas drilling project outside Denver and direct the developer to seek other sites following residents’ opposition. (CPR)

• California advocates and residents call on Phillips 66 to develop and adhere to a strong cleanup plan for its Los Angeles-area refinery slated to close at the end of this year. (Inside Climate News)

• Los Angeles County files a lawsuit seeking to force four petroleum companies to plug idle oil and gas wells in the Inglewood field that emit toxins into surrounding communities. (NBC Los Angeles, Los Angeles Times)

• Conservation and Indigenous advocates file a lawsuit seeking to overturn the Trump administration’s approval of ConocoPhillips’ winter seismic and exploration drilling in the Western Arctic. (E&E News, news release)

CLIMATE

• California regulators release draft rules for the state’s new climate disclosure laws for large corporations. (E&E News)

• California legislative analysts say the state’s carbon cap-and-trade program could face a shortfall of over $1.8 billion next year. (E&E News)

HYDROPOWER

• The Trump administration moves to reverse the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s policy giving tribal nations veto power over proposed hydropower projects on their land. (Grist)

PUBLIC LANDS

• Documents show that top U.S. Interior Department official Karen Budd-Falen’s family ranch sold water rights to the Thacker Pass Mine under development on federal land in Nevada, raising questions about conflicts of interest. (Public Domain)

NEW FROM CANARY 

• Chart: Geothermal energy is attracting more and more investment — Dan McCarthy

• Raya Power makes a solar-battery system you can put in your backyard — Jeff St. John

• The man behind the fall of offshore wind — Clare Fieseler

• FirstEnergy bribery scheme sank Lake Erie offshore wind, lawsuit says — Kathiann M. Kowalski