Oregon implements new data center law

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DATA CENTERS

• Oregon regulators approve rules creating a legally distinct customer class for data centers, establishing new rates, and requiring utilities to allocate associated costs to the facilities. (Oregonian)

• The federal Bureau of Land Management fast-tracks reviews of a proposed natural gas pipeline designed to serve the Project Jupiter data center complex under development in southern New Mexico. (Source NM)

• A Colorado legislative committee kills a bill that would have offered tax incentives to data centers following environmental advocates’ opposition. (CPR)

• The developer of a proposed 9-GW data center in northern Utah says he would consider partly powering the facility with solar, wind, and batteries after plans for an on-site natural gas plant generate public pushback. (Salt Lake Tribune)

CLEAN ENERGY

• New Mexico’s land office greenlights AFE Cedarville’s proposed 212 MW wind facility in Torrance County, saying it could generate millions of dollars for the state’s schools. (KOB)

• Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs legislation clearing the way for plug-in solar, but systems authorized by the law aren’t yet widely available. (CPR)

• A California industrial greenhouse firm plans to deploy 50 MW of solar-plus-storage powered microgrids to serve its 6,000-unit facilities. (news release)

• Data show New Mexico obtains the nation’s third highest percentage of its power from solar and wind behind Iowa and South Dakota. (Canary Media)

• Avangrid employs 5,000 sheep to graze and manage vegetation at its solar facilities in Oregon and Washington. (news release)

GRID

• California’s grid operator says its regional Extended Day-Ahead Market is running smoothly a week after its launch and power prices continue to fall within expected ranges. (Utility Dive)

FOSSIL FUELS

• Internal correspondence shows the federal Bureau of Land Management skirted a court order to issue drilling permits in a Wyoming oil field to Continental Resources after the firm’s founder met with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. (Public Domain)

• Colorado environmental advocates say they will not oppose legislation that would allow the Ray Nixon coal plant to continue operating for no more than three years after its scheduled 2029 retirement date. (Colorado Sun)

• Wyoming energy officials say data center-driven electricity demand growth is forcing utilities to cancel fossil fuel plant retirements and benefitting the state’s coal mining industry. (Cowboy State Daily)

• Federal Reserve economists say high oil prices stemming from the Iran conflict will lead to significantly higher severance tax revenues for New Mexico, Wyoming, and other Rocky Mountain states. (news release)

UTILITIES

• Idaho Power proposes two natural gas plants with a combined 652-MW capacity in the southern part of the state, saying it is the cheapest and most reliable way to address a projected capacity deficit. (Idaho Statesman)

• NorthWestern Energy executives tell investors its proposed merger with Black Hills Energy is motivated by data center-driven demand growth, despite telling the public otherwise. (Daily Montanan)

POLITICS

• U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) urges fellow Democrats to embrace an ​“all-of-the-above” energy strategy to show the party is serious about tackling the affordability crisis while addressing climate change. (E&E News)