OIL & GAS: Colorado regulators order a violation-plagued oil and gas operator to post a $133 million bond to assure its 1,089 wells will be properly plugged, about three times what the company proposed. (Colorado Sun)
ALSO:
- Alaska residents and advocates push back on an energy security task force’s recommendations, saying they are more of a proposed liquefied natural gas export project sales pitch than a clean energy transition blueprint. (KUAC)
- California advocates push back on ExxonMobil’s proposal to restart an oil pipeline that spilled 123,000 gallons of crude in 2015, saying it would facilitate the reopening of a polluting processing facility. (KEYT)
- ConocoPhillips proposes a seismic survey at its controversial Willow drilling project in Alaska, stoking fears the company is planning to expand the development. (Inside Climate News)
NUCLEAR: A petroleum executive proposes using small modular nuclear reactors to power the Permian Basin oil and gas fields as the industry electrifies. (Midland Reporter-Telegram)
UTILITIES:
- A northern Colorado power authority’s board votes to deploy a new natural gas turbine, battery storage and virtual power plants to help it become carbon-free by 2030. (Coloradoan)
- Southern California Edison completes seismic mitigation work on bulk power transmission substations near the San Andreas Fault. (news release)
CLIMATE:
- Preliminary estimates find California carbon emissions increased last year, setting the state further behind in achieving its 2030 climate goals. (Fresno Bee)
- A Colorado school district purchases five diesel buses for mountainous routes even though it plans to reach carbon-neutrality by 2050. (Denver Gazette)
GRID: Southern California utilities warn customers of possible public safety power outages this week as intense Santa Ana winds elevate wildfire hazard. (Fox 11)
CLEAN ENERGY: Five Colorado rural communities receive $500,000 in federal funding to develop clean energy demonstration projects. (news release)
BIOFUELS: Pacific Gas & Electric plans to replace some natural gas with biofuels made from trees it cuts as part of its wildlife mitigation programs. (news release)
CARBON CAPTURE: The Biden administration awards about $14 million to marine carbon removal research and development projects in Colorado, Washington and Utah. (news release)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
- Albuquerque, New Mexico, considers requiring electric vehicle charging infrastructure at new developments and construction. (KOB 4)
- An auto dealers association finds electric vehicles accounted for 17% of Colorado new car sales so far this year, a 5.5% increase from last year. (Colorado Times-Recorder)
- A California public high school integrates electric vehicle repair classes into its auto shop curriculum. (CBS Bay Area)
- California receives $40.5 million in federal funding to build 270 electric vehicle fast chargers at 26 sites along highways. (news release)
- An Arizona fire and rescue department adds an electric pumper truck to its fleet. (3TV/CBS 5)
More from the Energy News Network: Midwest | Southeast | Northeast | West