Newsom signs slew of climate, energy, drilling bills

This roundup of energy news headlines comes from our Western Energy News newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning.

CLIMATE

• California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs a suite of bills aimed at tackling climate change and rising energy costs, including legislation that extends the carbon cap-and-invest program and clears the way for up to 2,000 new oil and gas wells annually. (Los Angeles Times)

• Colorado advocates and elected officials push back on the U.S. EPA’s move to eliminate its greenhouse gas reporting program, saying it could lead to dirtier air and more emissions. (CBS Colorado)

FOSSIL FUELS

• A natural gas pipeline ruptures in southern Wyoming, sparking explosions, damaging a freight train, and sending out flames visible from Colorado. (Associated Press)

• Colorado and 15 other states prepare to file a lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of skirting federal endangered species regulations when reviewing and approving proposed energy developments, including an oil train loadout facility in Utah. (Utah News Dispatch)

• Wyoming lawmakers renew calls to transfer federal land to the state in hopes of offsetting revenue losses resulting from congressional Republicans’ federal coal royalty rate reduction. (Wyoming Public Radio)

• New Mexico advocates call for state Environment Department Secretary James Kenney to resign after he advanced an industry proposal to allow treated oil and gas wastewater to be reused or discharged into the environment. (Source NM)

UTILITIES

• Berkshire Hathaway Energy urges Western states to follow Utah’s lead in allowing utilities to require customers to pay for wildfire funds, and capping the amount fire victims can sue utilities for. (Grist)

DATA CENTERS

• Doña Ana County, New Mexico’s commissioners approve a tax incentive package for a proposed $165 billion data center, raising concerns about the facilities’ water and energy use. (KVIA)

POLLUTION

• Colorado regulators vote to adopt rules establishing new ​“priority toxic air contaminants” standards, but advocates say they aren’t stringent enough. (Colorado Newsline)

CLEAN ENERGY

• Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs directs state agencies to develop ways to streamline clean energy permitting, support firms affected by expiring federal tax credits, and plan for EV adoption. (Solar Power World)

• Pasadena, California’s city council votes to allow municipal utility customers to install rooftop solar and battery storage capacity up to 50% greater than their maximum historic usage. (Public Power)

• A northern Colorado resident pushes back on a proposed utility-scale agrivoltaic solar array on private farmland, saying it would disrupt wildlife and her horses. (Loveland Reporter-Herald)

PUBLIC LANDS

• Legal experts say congressional Republicans’ effort to overturn federal Bureau of Land Management plans that guide oil and gas drilling, mining and other development could sow chaos and confusion. (Deseret News)

ELECTRIFICATION

• Colorado advocates and utilities spar over emissions-reduction targets for natural gas distribution systems under the state’s new clean heat law after the Trump administration nixed most federal electrification incentives. (Colorado Newsline)

GEOTHERMAL

• Colorado firm Mt. Princeton Geothermal files a lawsuit challenging the state land board’s refusal to renew its exploration lease in Chaffee County, saying it derailed its proposed power project and scuttled its investments. (Arkansas Valley Voice)

• Utah firm Zanskar proposes an enhanced geothermal power facility in northern Nevada where it says it used AI to guide exploratory drilling. (news release)

• Radotherm Energy says it has secured $38 million in financing for a proposed 1.8 MW geothermal power plant in Utah using its closed loop system. (Mezha)

COMMENTARY

• Columnist Sammy Roth praises Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers for passing a slew of climate-friendly legislation, but says the next governor needs to put climate first always, not just when it’s politically expedient. (Los Angeles Times)

NEW FROM CANARY 

• Utilities are doing even worse on climate than they were five years ago — Jeff St. John

• Cuts to Rhode Island energy-efficiency plan bad for residents, study says — Sarah Shemkus

• Solar and batteries had a record-setting, grid-stabilizing summer in Texas — Kathryn Krawczyk