Oregon rejects gas utilities’ climate plans

OIL & GAS: Oregon regulators reject climate plans from all three of the state’s natural gas utilities, saying they are overly optimistic about the prospects for ​“renewable” gas and hydrogen. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

ALSO: New Mexico regulators reject a utility’s plan for a liquified natural gas storage facility, saying the benefits don’t justify the cost. (Source NM)

CARBON CAPTURE: A California company has raised $80 million for a proposed direct-air carbon capture facility in Wyoming. (Canary Media)

WIND:

• A proposed marine sanctuary backed by tribal nations could complicate interconnection for offshore wind in California. (E&E News)
• Oregon representatives urge the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to extend the comment period for proposed offshore wind projects. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

SOLAR: A cannabis company proposes a 102 MW solar project to help power its research facility in rural New Mexico. (Renewables Now)

ENERGY STORAGE:

• The Navajo Nation reiterates its opposition to a proposed pumped-hydro storage project in Arizona, which will likely derail the project. (E&E News, subscription)
• An Arizona utility announces its new 1 GW-hour battery storage system is now online, mainly to provide power for a new Google data center. (KTAR)

CLIMATE:

• A group of Wyoming lawmakers who reject the science of climate change failed to block two key energy bills backed by Gov. Mark Gordon. (WyoFile)
• Oregon has begun rewriting its climate policy after an earlier version was thrown out by a court decision. (Washington State Standard)
• Plaintiffs in a Montana climate lawsuit file their appeal to the state Supreme Court, saying the state’s constitution obliges the courts to enforce citizens rights to a clean and healthful environment. (Daily Montanan)
• The U.S. Interior Department announces $120 million for 146 tribal climate resilience projects. (The Hill)

OVERSIGHT:

• The chair of Washington’s Utilities and Transportation Commission continues to resist calls to step down amid controversy over his use of a racial slur and accusations of bullying and harassment. (Washington State Standard)
• California’s Energy Commission approves a process to consider ​“non-energy benefits” such as health and economic impacts in energy planning. (Inside Climate News)

UTILITIES: Hawaii lawmakers debate a bill that would allow the state’s largest utility to securitize a bond to help pay for wildfire costs. (KITV)

EFFICIENCY: A landmark federal courthouse in Salt Lake City is undergoing extensive energy efficiency upgrades, with an aim of eventually reaching net-zero status. (Salt Lake Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION: Utah data shows both electric and hybrid vehicles are becoming more popular, but those sales are dwarfed by a surge in pickups and SUVs. (Salt Lake Tribune, subscription)

COMMENTARY:

• Advocates recommend line-item vetos to a recently passed Washington clean energy bill, saying it favors investors over ratepayers. (Sightline Institute)
• A columnist weighs the pros and cons of hydropower dams, which produce clean electricity but also have climate impacts of their own. (Los Angeles Times)