Study: Community solar expands clean energy access

SOLAR: Colorado and California researchers find community solar programs have expanded clean energy access to renters and lower-income communities. (Canary Media)  

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ALSO:

• The federal Bureau of Land Management seeks public input on a proposed 350 MW solar installation in southwest Arizona. (news release)
• An Alaska tribal consortium considers adding solar-plus-battery storage to existing diesel-powered microgrids in remote communities in an effort to increase resilience and reduce emissions. (Microgrid Knowledge)
• Rising numbers of Alaska residents install rooftop solar arrays in an effort to weather a predicted natural gas shortage and resulting electricity price spikes. (Alaska Public Media)

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GRID: A remote Alaska community is left without power for weeks after mechanical failures disable the diesel generators it relies on. (KYUK)

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CLIMATE: California officials warn an extended heat wave forecast to grip the state this week and next could raise wildfire risk and ozone pollution, pose health hazards and strain the power grid. (Los Angeles Times)

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UTILITIES:

• Advocates worry a Utah law allowing utilities to establish ratepayer-subsidized fire funds will disincentivize them from doing wildfire hazard mitigation work. (High Country News)
• The Biden administration loans an Alaska electric cooperative $100 million to construct a battery energy storage system, upgrade a substation and connect a solar installation to its grid. (Alaska Business)

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HYDROGEN: A California startup working to develop hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft shuts down after failing to secure adequate financing. (Canary Media)

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WIND:

• Clean energy developer Avangrid opens a wind turbine technician training center in rural Oregon. (KGW)
• A southern California city brings a 30 MW wind facility online that is expected to supply about half of its power. (Hey SoCal)

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OVERSIGHT: Analysts predict the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Chevron doctrine could have significant ramifications for federal energy and climate regulations in the West, but it may take decades for the consequences to become clear. (High Country News, WyoFile)

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OIL & GAS:

• A southern California city’s residents fight an oil company’s proposed 20-year permit extension that would allow it to drill 46 new wells. (Signal Tribune)
• Nevada advocates push back on an oil refinery’s proposal to purchase more than 200 acres of federal land near Tonopah for undisclosed purposes. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

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GEOTHERMAL: A southwest Colorado craft beer company powers its operations with 100% geothermal energy. (Denver 7)

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NUCLEAR:

• Central Washington state leaders support a proposal to install small modular nuclear reactors near an existing nuclear plant. (Spokesman-Review)
• A company proposing an interim spent nuclear fuel repository in southeastern New Mexico appeals its case to the U.S. Supreme Court after a lower court vacated its license in March. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)

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HYDROPOWER: A California firm looks to design high-performance, fish-friendly hydropower turbines that could extend the life of some facilities slated for decommissioning. (MIT Technology Review)

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