U.S. Senator: Lava Ridge wind project in Idaho is ​“over and done”

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CLEAN ENERGY

• U.S. Sen Jim Risch, an Idaho Republican, says the Trump administration assured him the proposed Lava Ridge wind project in the southern part of the state is ​“over and done” following widespread local opposition. (Idaho Statesman)

• Utah lawmakers consider a bill that would remove state incentives for utility-scale solar facilities if they are located on ​“productive farmlands.” (Utah News Dispatch)

• New Mexico lawmakers fail to advance a bill that would establish state regulations for siting and permitting intrastate transmission lines and solar facilities over 5 MW. (New Mexico Political Report)

• Washington state awards a firm $1.5 million to help fund an aviation biofuel refinery under development in Walla Walla. (Biofuels Digest)

FOSSIL FUELS

• New Mexico advocates urge state lawmakers to pass about 20 bills aimed at tightening oil and gas regulations, saying they must ​“fortify us against the Trump administration’s transgressions.” (Capital & Main)

• Oregon advocates plan to file a lawsuit seeking to force state regulators to revoke a Portland fuel storage terminal facility’s city land-use permit. (KOIN)

• Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon signs a bill lowering the state severance tax rate on coal production. (KGAB)

• Washington state’s building industry refiles a lawsuit seeking to force the state to update codes to comply with a ballot initiative blocking natural gas hookup bans. (Chronicle)

GRID

• A power wholesaler completes construction on a high-voltage transmission line in eastern Colorado. (Power)

TRANSPORTATION

• California’s high-speed rail authority proposes a 265 MW solar-plus-storage facility to power the first phase of the project. (Energy Storage News)

• An environmental law expert says Congress does not have the authority to review or revoke the U.S. EPA’s California clean car and truck waiver. (Legal Planet)

NUCLEAR

• Colorado lawmakers advance legislation that would classify nuclear power as clean energy in an effort to encourage advanced reactor development. (Colorado Politics)

• U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright calls for loosening regulations on geothermal and nuclear reactor development during a New Mexico visit. (Albuquerque Journal)

COMMENTARY

• An energy journalist urges California’s offshore wind industry to acknowledge and fight the Trump administration’s opposition to clean energy development. (Quitting Carbon)

• An Arizona union leader calls on federal lawmakers not to repeal clean energy funding, saying nearly 19,000 jobs in the state are at stake. (AZ Mirror)

• A California advocate urges state lawmakers to pass legislation aimed at holding the oil and gas industry accountable for climate-related disasters like the Los Angeles-area wildfires. (CalMatters)