Trump fast-tracks drilling, mining approvals

This roundup of energy news headlines comes from our Western Energy News newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each morning.

PUBLIC LANDS

• The U.S. Interior Department plans to dramatically speed up permitting for oil and gas, uranium, coal, biofuel, geothermal, hydropower, and critical mineral projects on federal lands. (E&E News)

• An Interior Department document suggests the Trump administration is considering shrinking national monuments in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Utah to allow for more mining and drilling. (Washington Post)

FOSSIL FUELS

• Colorado lawmakers kill legislation that would have required gas stations to warn consumers about fossil fuels’ climate and health impacts following opposition from industry and the governor. (Colorado Sun)

• Colorado regulators issue a rule requiring oil and gas operators to reuse some produced water when hydraulic fracturing and drilling new wells. (Colorado Sun)

• Wyoming’s Department of Revenue asks the state Supreme Court to overturn a ruling exempting companies from sales taxes on electricity used to transport oil and gas through pipelines. (WyoFile)

• Advocates worry the Trump administration eviscerating a federal miners’ health program will harm Wyoming coal workers as black lung cases increase. (Wyoming Public Media)

• Southern California officials push back on a regional air quality regulators’ proposed ban on new gas-powered water heaters and furnaces. (Voice of OC)

INDUSTRY

• Colorado-based startup Electra brings in $186 million from investors to test whether electrowinning — a process for removing impurities from metals — can purify iron without coal-fired furnaces. (Canary Media)

GRID

• Southern California Edison begins removing an idle transmission line that is suspected of sparking one of the deadly Los Angeles-area blazes in January. (NBC Los Angeles)

• A developer seeks public input on the proposed Ironwood high-voltage transmission line in southern California. (news release)

• California lawmakers advance legislation aimed at encouraging and expanding virtual power plant deployment. (news release)

CLEAN ENERGY

• U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, urges the Trump administration to release funding for clean energy projects in her state, saying they would boost rural communities’ independence. (Alaska Beacon)

• Hawaii lawmakers introduce legislation that would repeal the state’s renewable energy income tax credit, raising clean energy advocates’ concerns. (Hawaii Public Radio)

• The fight over California legislation that would slash net metering compensation for rooftop solar customers heats up, with rooftop solar owners protesting outside the bill sponsor’s office. (Los Angeles Times)

UTILITIES

• Advocates and finance experts urge New Mexico regulators to reject a private equity firm’s proposal to take over New Mexico Gas Co., saying the sale could harm the utility’s customers. (Santa Fe New Mexican)

TRANSPORTATION

• California plans to spend $500 million to provide 1,000 electric buses and build charging stations in rural, low-income, and disadvantaged school districts. (NBC Los Angeles)

• The U.S. Supreme Court indicates it will allow fossil fuel companies to sue California over its vehicle emission rules. (CNN)

CLIMATE

• Colorado lawmakers plan to wait until next year to consider legislation that would accelerate the energy transition and utilities’ emission reduction goals. (CPR)

LITHIUM

• A California lawmaker introduces bills that would ease regulations on lithium extraction and geothermal energy projects in the Imperial Valley. (Calexico Chronicle)