Study: Oil and gas wells in wildfire zones threaten Western communities

OIL & GAS: California researchers find more than 100,000 oil and gas wells in the Western U.S. are in wildfire-prone areas, compounding health and safety risks that disproportionately affect marginalized populations. (The Hill)

ALSO: A federal Bureau of Land Management oil and gas lease auction in Nevada garners zero bids. (E&E News, subscription)

UTILITIES: Some Western utilities are operating without insurance as coverage becomes prohibitively expensive amid increasing wildfire hazard. (Bloomberg)

CLIMATE:

• A report finds Wyoming has received more federal climate-related funding per capita than any other state even though it is dominated by fossil fuel-friendly politics. (Wyoming Public Media)
• Researchers find a federal drought monitoring tool is unable to keep pace with the West’s rapid warming and drying. (Boulder Daily Camera)

POLITICS: Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon pays a law firm $800,000 in state funds as a down payment to fight Biden administration power plant regulations, public land rules and a proposal to end coal leasing in the Powder River Basin. (Cowboy State Daily)

SOLAR:

• A solar module manufacturing firm begins production at its new factory in Arizona. (Solar Power World)
• California loans a tribal nation $3 million to build a carport-mounted solar system to power a casino and emergency center. (news release)

WIND: California’s energy commission publishes its final offshore wind strategic plan with a goal of bringing 25,000 MW of capacity online by 2045. (Recharge News, subscription)

HYDROPOWER: Pumped hydropower storage developers step up outreach to the Navajo Nation after federal regulators rejected several proposed projects due to tribal opposition. (Bloomberg Law)

CLEAN ENERGY:

• Arizona State University joins a federal initiative seeking to increase women’s participation in clean energy research and development. (news release)
• An Alaska nonprofit hosts a summer camp aimed at teaching kids about clean energy technology. (KTOO)

EMISSIONS: A southern California grand jury finds many cities are failing to recycle organic waste, resulting in increased landfill methane emissions. (Voice of OC) 

NUCLEAR: Some residents of a Wyoming coal community are slow to support a proposed advanced nuclear reactor, saying they don’t like project-backer Bill Gates’ politics. (Casper Star-Tribune)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Arizona transportation officials seek public input on plans to expand its electric vehicle fast-charging station network. (Arizona Daily Star)

COMMENTARY:

• An Oregon advocate and a tribal leader urge the federal government to stop producing hydropower at Willamette Basin dams, saying the cost is too high and it harms salmon. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)
• A California columnist lauds a utility’s deal to purchase enhanced geothermal power from a facility under development in Utah, saying it’s a big step toward a 100% clean energy-powered grid. (Los Angeles Times)