Study: Western day-ahead power market would boost renewables

GRID: A study commissioned by California’s grid operator finds a proposed Western day-ahead power market could save the region up to $1.2 billion and increase renewable power output by more than 1,800 GWh. (Utility Dive)

ALSO:
• A multi-vehicle crash damages a utility pole in Colorado, leaving nearly 7,000 Denver-area households without power. (KDVR)
• A southern California school district says it has experienced 27 power outages over the last year. (South Pasadena Review)

OIL & GAS:
• Montana conservationists applaud the Biden administration for halting noncompetitive federal oil and gas leases and increasing royalty rates. (Billings Gazette)
• A Colorado city’s residents fight a proposed oil and gas drilling project, saying it threatens local air quality and a drinking-water reservoir. (CBS News Colorado)
• The Biden administration makes $50 million available for plugging and cleaning up abandoned oil and gas wells on tribal lands. (news release)

UTILITIES:
• New Mexico’s attorney general and consumer advocates urge the state Supreme Court to reverse its decision allowing a utility to delay issuing ratepayer rebates for savings realized from closing a coal power plant. (Associated Press)
• A Colorado judge rejects Xcel Energy’s request to dismiss a class action lawsuit blaming the utility for sparking last year’s Marshall Fire that destroyed 1,000 homes. (Colorado Hometown Weekly)

SOLAR:
• Arizona regulators delay a vote on a proposed community solar program until early next year, putting the matter in the hands of a newly seated four-to-one Republican majority. (E&E News, subscription)
• Washington state regulators seek public input on two 80 MW solar facilities proposed for Yakima County. (Yakima Herald-Republic)
• Hawaiian Electric selects seven solar projects for its community-based solar program aimed at low- and moderate-income households. (PV Magazine)

HYDROPOWER: Oregon developers propose retrofitting an existing dam with an 11 MW hydropower generator. (Mail Tribune)

BIOFUELS: Washington State University researchers develop a more efficient method of converting human waste into methane fuel. (Spokesman-Review)

HYDROGEN: A Texas company says it can produce hydrogen fuel by adding bacteria to residual hydrocarbons in spent oil and gas wells. (WIRED)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: A California port opens its first public electric heavy duty truck charging station. (Press-Telegram)

CRITICAL MINERALS:
• The nation’s sole domestic lithium producer plans to double its Nevada mine’s production by 2024 to meet growing global demand. (NPR)
• Wyoming’s energy authority awards a rare earth element mining company $4.4 million to develop a prototype ore-processing facility. (Casper Star-Tribune)

COMMENTARY: An editorial board lauds a Los Angeles municipal utility’s decision to end disconnections for nonpayment, but urges officials to help the poorest residents afford water and power. (Los Angeles Times)