Advocates: Hawaii solar rate reduction imperils energy transition

SOLAR: Hawaii advocates say lower payments for customers’ excess rooftop solar could incentivize customers to only install arrays for their own use and avoid exporting to the grid, imperiling the state’s energy transition. (Hawaii Public Radio)

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WIND: A nonprofit seeks additional historic protections for a World War II Japanese incarceration camp in Idaho, with a goal of halting the proposed Lava Ridge Wind Project. (Boise State Public Radio)

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CLEAN ENERGY: Alaska lawmakers are set to consider bills related to community solar, sustainable energy loans and clean energy standards for utilities this legislative session. (Alaska Public Media)

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OIL & GAS:

• Alaska lawmakers propose a bill aimed at spurring off an expected natural gas shortage by zeroing out taxes and royalties on new drilling in the Cook Inlet. (Alaska Public Media)
• A petroleum company plans to restart production at a California oil field that has been idled since 2018. (World Oil)

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COAL: Wyoming considers partnering with a mining company to explore using coal in asphalt. (Cowboy State Daily)

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ELECTRIFICATION:

• A New Mexico energy auditor says nearly every home he checks has some level of a natural gas leak, underscoring the need to switch to electric heating and cooking. (New Mexico Political Report)
• Experts say cities have options for electrifying buildings even after an appeals court upheld its invalidation of natural gas hookup bans. (Grist)

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NUCLEAR: Oregon small modular nuclear reactor startup NuScale says it laid off 154 workers as part of its shift from its research phase to commercialization of its technology. (Oregonian)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• The Biden administration awards school districts $1 billion — including about $139 million to California, Nevada and Arizona — to replace diesel buses with electric or other low-emissions vehicles. (Washington Post)
• The U.S. Energy Department awards $32.5 million to 16 transportation electrification initiatives, with about half of the funding going to California and Utah projects. (news release)

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GRID:

• A report finds a partial solar eclipse in October knocked about 4,500 MW of solar generation off California’s grid, with battery storage, hydropower, imports and natural gas-generated power making up for the loss. (RTO Insider, subscription)
• Tesla proposes partnering with a California city to rebuild a substation that would serve the automaker’s new engineering headquarters. (Palo Alto Weekly)
• Federal regulators approve $2.3 million in penalties against a global commodities trader for manipulating the California power market in 2013. (RTO Insider, subscription)

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CRITICAL MATERIALS: The U.S. Supreme Court rejects Alaska’s bid to review the U.S. EPA’s denial of the proposed Pebble copper and gold mine, dealing a blow to the state’s efforts to revive the project. (E&E News)

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