Washington governor throws lifeline to contested wind facility

WIND: Washington Gov. Jay Inslee rejects a recommendation to slash the proposed Horse Heaven wind farm in half to protect wildlife and cultural sites in the southern part of the state, and suggests approving it at its original size. (Associated Press)

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ALSO:

• A U.S. congressman who represents northern California urges federal regulators to consult more closely with tribal nations on proposed offshore wind developments. (Associated Press)
• A Washington utility begins construction on a 248 MW wind facility in rural Montana. (Billings Gazette)

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SOLAR:

• Colorado counties temporarily ban utility-scale solar developments on private land following residents’ opposition, slowing the state’s energy transition. (Denver Post)
• A southern California county advances permitting for a proposed 2,000 MW solar-plus-battery storage facility on nearly 13,000 acres of private land. (Energy Storage News, subscription)
• Construction is completed on a 190 MW solar plant in central New Mexico. (KRQE)

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CLEAN ENERGY:

• A poll finds 90% of Hawaii residents support more renewable energy development in the state. (Hawaii Public Radio)
• The U.S. Agriculture Department awards Montana farms and businesses nearly $220,000 to fund efficiency upgrades and solar installations. (NBC Montana)

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NUCLEAR: A data center under development in a remote part of Wyoming agrees to purchase 100 MW of power from small modular nuclear reactor startup Oklo. (Data Center Dynamics)

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ELECTRIFICATION: California advocates call on regulators to amend state energy codes to strongly encourage homeowners to replace broken or aging air conditioners with electric heat pumps. (Canary Media)

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STORAGE: California residents push a ballot measure aimed at blocking a 600 MW battery energy storage system at a shuttered power plant in a tourist town on the state’s central coast. (Inside Climate News)

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GRID: An NV Energy executive indicates the Nevada utility is poised to choose the California grid operator’s regional day-ahead power market over SPP’s competing one. (RTO Insider, subscription)

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OIL & GAS:

• Colorado regulators are poised to begin monitoring emissions from oil and gas facilities as part of the state’s new methane-intensity rule. (Colorado Sun)
• Wyoming oil and gas operators reported 730 drilling-related spills and incidents in 2023, a 50% increase from the previous year. (Casper Star-Tribune)
• Oregon and Washington officials continue to seek the source of tar balls that have washed up on the Northwest coast for over a week. (OPB)

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GEOTHERMAL: Colorado awards 35 projects $7.7 million to research and develop geothermal energy. (Colorado Sun)

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UTILITIES: Federal legislation that would exempt wildfire damage settlements from federal taxation stalls, potentially leaving some Oregon residents with high bills. (Oregonian)

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MINING: The federal Bureau of Land Management seeks public input on a proposed copper mine expansion in southeastern Utah’s Lisbon Valley. (news release)

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