Oregon advocates protest Portland hydrogen-natural gas blending plan

HYDROGEN: Oregon advocates push back against a utility’s pilot project blending hydrogen into its natural gas distribution system in Portland, joining other critics around the region citing safety concerns, high costs and limited effectiveness at decarbonization. (Oregon Capital Chronicle, Floodlight)

UTILITIES: California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposes legislation aimed at lowering electricity bills, but has yet to disclose details. (Sacramento Bee)

GRID:

• The U.S. Energy Department awards Western states and tribal nations $1.6 billion to help fund four transmission and grid resilience projects. (news release, Canary Media)
• An Arizona utility says new solar and battery storage systems helped it meet record-high peak power demand during extreme heat in early August. (news release)

OIL & GAS: 

• Colorado advocates accuse state regulators of bowing to industry pressure when cutting a key protection for disadvantaged communities out of proposed rules addressing oil and gas drilling’s cumulative impacts. (Colorado Sun)
• A New Mexico regulator with ties to the petroleum industry agrees to abstain from voting on a proposal to reuse oil and gas wastewater for industrial purposes after advocates alleged a conflict of interest. (E&E News, subscription)

GEOTHERMAL:

• A U.S. Army base in Alaska looks to tap geothermal energy as a backup heat source. (KUAC)
• Colorado regulators begin hearings on proposed rules governing enhanced geothermal energy development. (Big Pivots)

EMISSIONS:

• Rural Oregon residents push back on a company’s proposed regional landfill expansion, saying the facility already emits unacceptable levels of methane, carbon dioxide, benzene and other pollutants. (Canary Media)
• Colorado researchers measure agricultural irrigation’s greenhouse gas emissions, finding water pumping is the sector’s largest source. (Colorado Sun)

POLITICS: A debate over the domestic uranium industry’s predicted revival dominates a Utah legislative race in the southeastern part of the state. (KJZZ)

STORAGE: Developers bring a 400 MW battery energy storage system online in southern California. (The Sun)

COMMENTARY:

• Advocates urge federal lawmakers to protect the Biden administration’s oil and gas leasing rules from legislative attacks, saying they help protect the West’s outdoor recreation economy from drilling’s impacts. (Colorado Sun)
• A columnist argues the Biden administration’s decision to end federal coal leasing in the Powder River Basin is not an attack on the industry but an acknowledgement of clear market trends. (Writers on the Range)
• An Alaska advocate calls on state and local leaders to leverage federal funding to establish commuter rail in the Anchorage area. (Anchorage Daily News)