Study: Much of Permian’s natural gas escaping to atmosphere

OIL & GAS: A new study finds methane emissions from major oil fields are vastly underestimated, with more than 9% of produced natural gas escaping to the atmosphere in parts of New Mexico. (Associated Press)

ALSO:

• Colorado lawmakers will discuss a bill to ban all new oil and gas drilling in the state by 2030, which the state’s Democratic governor opposes. (Colorado Newsline)
• Alaska is expected to see an additional $200 million in revenue over the next two years from higher oil prices. (Anchorage Daily News)
• Backers of a rail line that would ship oil through Colorado petition the U.S. Supreme Court to review litigation that halted the project. (Colorado Newsline)

CLEAN ENERGY: The Department of Energy estimates a rapid adoption of renewable energy could save Alaskans more than $1 billion on utility bills by 2040. (Anchorage Daily News)

CLIMATE:

• A new report finds California’s emissions increased 3.4% in 2021, driven largely by reliance on natural gas power plants as the state rebounded from the pandemic. (CalMatters)
• Washington’s carbon market sees a dramatic price drop in its latest auction ahead of a November ballot provision seeking to repeal the state’s climate law. (S&P Global)
• Montana’s proposed climate plan, an effort to secure a portion of Inflation Reduction Act funds, is ​“intentionally broad” and includes measures ranging from urban forestry to putting out coal seam fires. (Montana Free Press)
• An Arizona bill would ban the state from doing anything to reduce emissions, which its Republican sponsor calls ​“furthering Marxist ideologies.” (Arizona Republic)

TRANSPORTATION:

• Members of California’s Air Resources Board say staff members are disregarding their concerns about the state’s emphasis on biofuels to reduce transportation emissions and are withholding key information. (Canary Media)
• Oregon will temporarily revive its rebate program for electric vehicles, offering up to $7,500 from April 3 to June 3. (OPB)
• Colorado lawmakers consider a $3 per day fee on rental cars to raise money to match federal grants for passenger rail. (Colorado Sun)
• Arizona Democrats urge the federal government to enact tougher clean-car standards amid opposition to state efforts. (Arizona Mirror)

ELECTRIFICATION: Portland’s city council unanimously approves a ban on gasoline-powered leaf blowers that will be introduced gradually. (Oregonian)

SOLAR: Concerns about wildfires are driving opposition to a utility-scale solar farm in New Mexico. (Searchlight New Mexico)

NUCLEAR:

• Washington lawmakers included $25 million for a utility’s efforts to develop a small modular reactor in the state budget, funding that could be threatened if opponents succeed in repealing the state’s climate law. (Tri-City Herald)
• An adviser to the Idaho National Laboratory explains why Wyoming is a key partner in the lab’s effort to develop advanced nuclear technology. (Cowboy State Daily)

UTILITIES: Amid an effort to municipalize San Diego’s utilities, the city’s current investor-owned utility releases a report estimating the value of the city’s grid at $11 billion, but offers few specifics as to how it arrived at that figure. (KPBS)