Wyoming regulators greenlight state’s largest solar project

SOLAR: Wyoming regulators greenlight a proposed 771 MW solar-plus-storage facility on private land near Cheyenne. (Casper Star-Tribune)

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ALSO:

• Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs legislation aimed at modernizing and expanding low-income households’ access to the state’s community solar program. (news release)
• Researchers work to develop a system for storing solar-generated thermal energy in depleted California oil wells. (Yale E360)

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OVERSIGHT: Arizona residents push back after a county approves a proposed natural gas peaker plant next to a retirement community shortly after banning new utility-scale solar installations. (Guardian)

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CLEAN ENERGY: The U.S. Energy Department awards over $2 million to community groups and nonprofits to fund clean energy projects, including ones in six Western states. (news release)

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TRANSPORTATION: Colorado lawmakers pass legislation aimed at expediting proposed passenger rail service between Denver and coal transition communities in the western part of the state. (Colorado Newsline)

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GRID: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs legislation requiring utilities to update their distribution grids to support state electrification and decarbonization goals. (news release)

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OIL & GAS:

• A media investigation casts doubt on industry claims that oil and gas produced in Colorado is cleaner than fuel from other states and finds the campaign is used to deflect proposed regulations. (Capital & Main)
• Analysts say Shell’s decision to relinquish state oil and gas leases in Alaska’s North Slope indicate the industry is losing interest in drilling in the Arctic. (Northern Journal)
• An Alaska utility proposes extending a pipeline to import natural gas to stem a looming shortage of the fuel. (Anchorage Daily News, subscription)
• Western industry groups sue the Biden administration over increased oil and gas royalty and reclamation bond rates, saying they will harm small producers. (Center Square)

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CLIMATE:

• Alaska youth file a lawsuit seeking to block a proposed liquefied natural gas pipeline and export terminal, saying resulting greenhouse gas emissions would violate their right to a livable climate. (Alaska Beacon)
• Montana’s Supreme Court plans to hear arguments in July over an appeal of a court ruling that the state’s fossil fuel-friendly policies violate residents’ right to a clean and healthful environment. (Daily Montanan)

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COAL: Right-wing Wyoming lawmakers call on Gov. Mark Gordon to sue the Biden administration over its proposal to halt new federal coal leases in the Powder River Basin. (Cowboy State Daily)

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LITHIUM:

• Some residents of California’s Imperial Valley are skeptical the growing lithium extraction industry will bring economic development, saying previous clean energy booms failed to deliver permanent jobs or prosperity. (KPBS)
• Utah advocates urge state regulators to reverse their decision to grant water rights to a proposed direct lithium extraction project, saying it could contaminate a tributary to the Colorado River. (news release)

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