Western states keep pushing hydrogen hubs after missing federal funds

HYDROGEN: Wyoming and New Mexico officials say they will continue to work together to establish a regional hydrogen hub even though the proposal was not selected for federal funding. (Casper Star-Tribune, Carlsbad Current-Argus) 

ALSO: New Mexico advocates push back on a committee’s recommendation to grant state energy transition funds to hydrogen-production startups, citing water consumption and emissions concerns. (Source NM)

OIL & GAS: 

• California advocates say a new state law aimed at tackling orphaned and abandoned oil and gas sites will allow idle wells — or unplugged facilities claimed by an operator — to spew methane indefinitely. (Capital & Main)
• Wyoming researchers look to tap an estimated 200 billion barrels of oil in a notoriously difficult-to-drill shale formation. (Cowboy State Daily)

TRANSITION: Colorado lawmakers propose establishing passenger rail service on lines used to carry coal to retiring power plants in the western part of the state. (CPR)

GRID:

• Oregon utility Pacific Power receives $150 million in federal infrastructure funding to improve grid resilience and wildfire mitigation. (KEZI)
• The U.S. Energy Department awards a northern New Mexico electric cooperative $23 million to harden its power grid against climate change-exacerbated extreme weather and wildfire. (news release

MICROGRIDS: Colorado receives $17.2 million in federal infrastructure funding to develop microgrids in remote and vulnerable communities. (Big Pivots)

SOLAR:

• California extends endangered species protections to a wildflower that only grows near Death Valley National Park, potentially affecting proposed mining and solar development. (Los Angeles Times)
• Construction begins on a 200 MW solar installation at the shuttered Escalante coal plant in New Mexico. (news release)
• A developer brings a 482 MW solar array with 280 MW of battery storage online at a decommissioned natural gas plant in southern California. (Power)
• Hawaii researchers look to expand agrivoltaics in the state by growing more crops among existing solar installations. (Hawaii Public Radio)

BATTERIES: A California company launches a virtual power plant allowing its residential battery storage customers to sell power back to the grid. (news release)

CLIMATE: A Seattle sports facility becomes the world’s first arena to receive zero-carbon certification after it upgrades its efficiency and reduces emissions. (News Tribune)

LITHIUM: A Canada company proposes extracting lithium from brine deposits in southwestern New Mexico. (NM Political Report)

URANIUM: A company proposes establishing a uranium mine on federal land in western New Mexico. (El Defensor Chieftain)

COMMENTARY:

• A journalist says the energy transition is moving forward in fossil fuel-reliant northwestern New Mexico despite all odds, but it still faces obstacles. (Land Desk)
• A California editorial board celebrates a bus-lane building boom in Los Angeles, saying it lures more passengers to public transit by providing faster, more reliable service. (Los Angeles Times)