Advocates: Biden solar plan imperils sacred site in Nevada

SOLAR: Western Shoshone tribal members in Nevada push back on the Biden administration’s federal land solar plan, saying it puts a sacred massacre site proposed for national monument status in the path of energy development. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

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PUBLIC LANDS: Advocates warn a second Trump administration would shrink or eliminate national monuments in the West, reopening fragile lands to oil and gas drilling, mining and other development. (Los Angeles Times)

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OIL & GAS: An oil-shipping firm agrees to pay $3.3 million to settle an environmental group’s lawsuit alleging the firm discharged petroleum coke pollutants into the San Francisco Bay. (Bay City News)

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CLEAN ENERGY: The Biden administration proposes tweaking tax rules to make tribal-owned firms eligible for direct cash payments for clean energy projects. (E&E News, subscription)

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UTILITIES:

• Oregon residents file a class-action lawsuit accusing the state’s largest natural gas utility of misleading customers about its carbon reduction plan and using that program’s funds to promote fossil fuels. (OPB)
• Wyoming utilities work to protect lines and other infrastructure from a fast-moving wildfire. (WyoFile)

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GRID:

• A multi-state consortium proposes regional governance for two Western power markets while leaving the California grid under the control of the state’s independent system operator. (Politico)
• A report finds Bonneville Power Administration stands to save more than $65 million annually by joining the California grid operator’s proposed Western day-ahead power market. (news release)

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CLIMATE:

• A Democratic U.S. Senate candidate from Arizona proposes building new nuclear reactors to fight climate change after the state swelters through its hottest summer on record. (HuffPost)
• Utah candidates for the U.S. Senate push opposing plans to tackle climate change, with frontrunner Republican Rep. John Curtis calling for a market-based fossil fuel and nuclear-friendly approach. (Associated Press)
• A California judge rejects the oil and gas industry’s bid to dismiss or move to federal court the state and local governments’ lawsuit over climate change’s effects. (E&E News, subscription)
• Activist and actress Jane Fonda visits Washington state to rally in defense of the state’s landmark climate law and carbon cap-and-invest program from a ballot measure seeking to overturn it. (MyNorthwest)

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LITHIUM: A California lawmaker calls on Imperial County to rework a plan for dividing up lithium-related revenues, saying it does not comply with state law. (KPBS)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Trucking industry groups file a lawsuit seeking to block implementation of California’s clean fleets rules and zero-emission vehicle mandates. (Road & Track)

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MINING: Wyoming lawmakers propose streamlining permitting for proposed rare earth element mines. (WyoFile)

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