Utility: Record number of Californians lost power during bomb cyclone

GRID: Pacific Gas & Electric says the recent bomb cyclone storm that battered utility equipment across California left 1.4 million of its customers without power, the highest number from a single event in 30 years. (Los Angeles Times) 

ALSO: California’s grid operator reports its Western energy imbalance market has yielded members $5.05 billion since its 2014 inception. (RTO Insider, subscription)

TRANSMISSION: New Mexico tribal nations push back on a proposed transmission line into Los Alamos, citing potential impacts to the natural and cultural landscape. (KUNM)

UTILITIES:

• Colorado regulators consider requiring a natural gas utility to incentivize customers to switch from gas to electric heating and cooking. (Colorado Sun)
• United Power and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association continue to battle over how much it will cost for the utility to buy out its contract with the wholesale power provider. (Colorado Sun)
• Alaska clean energy advocates call on regulators to force a utility to disclose customers’ data so they can design rates aimed at reducing natural gas consumption. (Northern Journal)

OIL & GAS: 

• New Mexico researchers find 57% of surveyed Permian Basin oil and gas workers lack employer-provided health insurance, 46% have had an accident on the job and 78% don’t have access to unemployment. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)
• A cargo train derails in northern Colorado, spilling hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel. (KUNC)

COAL: The Hopi Tribe continues to pursue transition funds to offset income lost due to the 2019 closure of a coal plant and its associated mine in northern Arizona. (Arizona Republic)

CLEAN ENERGY: Colorado lawmakers propose limiting local governments’ power to restrict proposed clean energy developments. (CPR)

WIND:

• Washington regulators delay a vote on the proposed Horse Heaven wind farm in the southern part of the state until April 30, citing complicated details and conflicting opinions among residents. (Spokesman-Review)
• Federal officials say full development of proposed offshore wind projects along central California’s coast could take 12 to 15 years. (New Times)
• California lawmakers propose a $1 billion bond act to help ports build offshore wind turbine assembly and transport facilities. (Lost Coast Outpost)

ELECTRIFICATION: A Washington state lawmaker proposes offering wildfire victims grants to rebuild homes with electric heat pumps. (Spokesman-Review)

POLITICS: A right-wing think tank urges former President Trump — should he win a second bid for the White House — to reopen Alaska areas to fossil fuel development, roll back methane reduction rules and expedite oil and gas drilling on federal lands. (E&E News)

COMMENTARY:

• A California advocate urges the U.S. EPA to reject a proposed carbon capture and sequestration project in the Bay Area, saying it is a dangerous, unproven ​“climate scam.” (Mercury News)
• A California energy columnist says proposed income-based power rates are an attempt at shifting climate-solution costs to the wealthy, not a utility profit grab. (Los Angeles Times)