Study: Western clean energy exports depend on transmission buildout

TRANSMISSION: A Colorado think tank finds Western states are poised to generate billions of dollars by exporting clean energy to other regions, but only if they can significantly expand the power grid. (Inside Climate News)

MINING: Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren proposes requiring mining companies to notify the tribe and post a bond prior to transporting uranium across tribal land. (Fronteras)

OIL & GAS: Colorado lawmakers advance legislation that would limit the length of trains passing through the state as a way to reduce the risk of spilling crude oil or other hazardous materials. (Colorado Sun)

CLIMATE:

• California lawmakers advance legislation that would assess fees on large emitters to help pay for climate-related damages. (E&E News, subscription)
• An advocacy group predicts the Biden administration’s conservation-oriented policies could lead to a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel extraction on federal land. (news release)

TRANSITION:

• A Washington state community is held up as a model for successfully transitioning away from fossil fuels as it prepares to weather a coal plant closure next year with the help of a $55 million transition fund. (Inside Climate News)
• Colorado lawmakers consider allowing coal plant operators to retain water rights after the facilities close in hopes of encouraging them to develop alternative energy sources. (Aspen Journalism)

SOLAR:

• Colorado lawmakers introduce legislation aimed at expanding low-income residents’ access to and modernizing the state’s community solar program. (news release)
• A developer brings a pair of solar-plus-battery storage installations in southern California online with a combined capacity of 463 MW. (news release)
• California awards a company $3 million to ramp up production of its modular solar-powered microgrid. (PV Magazine)

STORAGE: A California community choice aggregator agrees to purchase 180 MW of power from a battery energy storage system under development in the San Francisco area. (Energy Storage News)

UTILITIES:

• California advocates and lawmakers push back on regulators’ proposal to add a fixed fee to utility bills while reducing electricity use rates, saying it would hurt low-income residents. (Press-Enterprise)
• Colorado residents criticize Xcel Energy over its execution of a preemptive power outage aimed at reducing wildfire risk during unusually severe winds this month. (KDVR)

CARBON CAPTURE: Alaska lawmakers remove minimum payment requirements from a carbon capture bill, saying the legislation is aimed at encouraging fossil fuel development, not raising revenue. (Alaska Beacon)

BIOFUELS: The operator of a Colorado power plant fueled with beetle-killed trees closes the facility, saying it is not financially viable. (Vail Daily)