GEOTHERMAL: Federal wildlife officials extend endangered species protections to a rare Nevada toad, forcing the developer of a geothermal plant in its only known habitat to analyze the project’s potential impacts to the amphibian. (Reuters)
OIL & GAS:
• The Biden administration issues an oil and gas leasing strategy aiming to push companies off public land and concentrate new drilling in existing fields, angering both industry and environmentalists. (Bloomberg Law)
• Wyoming sues the Biden administration for canceling oil and gas lease sales in 2021 and 2022. (Wyoming Public Radio)
• The Biden administration delays releasing its environmental review of oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge until the second quarter of next year. (Alaska Beacon)
• An oil company operating in the Permian Basin avoids fines for its alleged role in triggering earthquakes after agreeing to wastewater injection permit modifications. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)
• An environmental group sues California regulators for approving oil and gas drilling in Los Angeles and Kern Counties, saying they failed to conduct required public health and environmental reviews. (news release)
GRID:
• Colorado regulators predict still winds and overcast weather will strain the state’s grid more than extreme heat or cold as additional wind and solar projects come online. (CPR)
• Grid operator Southwest Power Pool publishes plans for a proposed day-ahead Western power market that would build on its existing energy imbalance market. (Utility Dive)
UTILITIES: NV Energy proposes adding 140 MW of geothermal power, a 200 MW battery storage system and 440 MW of natural gas peaker units to its portfolio. (2News)
SOLAR:
• A solar industry lobbyist urges the federal government to open up more public lands to renewable energy projects, saying distributed generation and development on private land will not be enough. (Los Angeles Times)
• California advocates rally across the state to protest regulators’ proposal to slash net metering rates for rooftop solar. (PV Magazine)
• A developer proposes a 7 MW community solar-plus-storage project in rural northern California. (Mad River Union)
• A Colorado campaign raises money to purchase community solar subscriptions for 400 low-income families. (news release)
WIND: California commercial fishermen urge federal agencies to slow down and consider proposed offshore wind development’s potential impacts on the industry. (Lost Coast Outpost)
NUCLEAR:
• Colorado environmental advocates prepare to push back against a potential uranium mining revival in the western part of the state. (Telluride Magazine)
• Oregon company NuScale partners with Shell to develop a method of producing hydrogen using power from a proposed small modular reactor power plant in Idaho. (World Nuclear News)
BATTERIES: Nevada electric vehicle battery recycler Redwood Materials receives $105 million in state tax abatements after announcing plans to build a new campus in Reno. (Nevada Independent)
LITHIUM: A California commission on lithium extraction submits its findings urging lawmakers to accelerate transmission planning, expedite permitting and implement economic development incentives. (news release)
TRANSPORTATION: Colorado public transit data show ridership remains higher than it was a year ago even after a month-long program offering free fares to alleviate air pollution ended. (Colorado Sun)
COAL: Wyoming’s U.S. Senators vote for legislation blocking a nationwide railroad strike that would halt coal shipments out of the Powder River Basin and otherwise disrupt energy supply chains. (Casper Star-Tribune)
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