CALIFORNIA: PG&E gets court approval for its $23 billion bankruptcy financing plan after California Gov. Gavin Newsom drops his opposition. (Associated Press)
ELECTRIFICATION: A new poll suggests 70% of Californians prefer efficient electric appliances powered by clean electricity instead of gas. (Earthjustice)
BIOFUELS: A federal government-backed startup is looking at the viability of giant, drone-managed seaweed farms for fuel, despite concerns about unexpected effects on marine ecosystems. (Scientific American)
GEOTHERMAL: A California lithium startup is partnering with an Australian firm to develop a lithium-extraction facility at the Salton Sea as part of the area’s first new geothermal power plant in a decade. (Los Angeles Times)
SOLAR:
• California reportedly became the first state to add more than 300 megawatts of residential solar in a single quarter during Q4 2019, and added more than one gigawatt over the course of last year for the third time. (Greentech Media)
• San Francisco’s solar industry is preparing for no business due to the COVID-19 “shelter in place” order issued for all Bay Area residents yesterday. (E&E News, subscription)
COAL:
• Montana’s Consumer Counsel says NorthWestern Energy’s proposal to buy an extra 25% of Colstrip Unit 4 is missing key information. (Montana Public Radio)
• The future of water rights owned by energy companies in the wake of Western coal-fired power plant closures may decide the economic future of many rural communities. (Daily Yonder)
FOSSIL FUELS: Wyoming coal, oil, and gas companies are intensifying their response to the spread of COVID-19, attempting to keep workers safe while weathering volatile energy markets and keeping up production. (Casper Star-Tribune)
OIL & GAS:
• Celebrity drag queen RuPaul draws criticism from fans after revealing that he leases oil rights on his 60,000 acre Wyoming ranch. (Paper)
• Wyoming’s oil and gas industry is expected to change significantly in the wake of two bills signed into law last week, notably the ability for mineral owners to receive 16% of the mineral royalty interest during the time the owner is paying the risk penalty. (Casper Star-Tribune)
• Alaska faces upwards of a $600 million revenue reduction in the 2021 fiscal year starting July 1 due to plummeting oil prices. (Anchorage Daily News)
• Initial results from a survey of Wyoming residents reveals significant support for natural gas and oil production. (University of Wyoming News)
POLLUTION:
• Nine Colorado counties are suing the state over new oil and gas air-quality rules they say unfairly impact rural areas. (Associated Press)
• A new study finds that California’s strict air quality regulations are helping boost the productivity of Central Valley farmers. (Phys.org)
PUBLIC LANDS: The BLM could sell off up to 50,000 acres of public lands in Nevada under a newly-introduced bill. (E&E News, subscription)
HYDROPOWER: Conservation groups asked federal agencies to cancel in-person meetings on plans for the Snake River dams due to COVID-19 concerns. (Spokesman-Review)
COMMENTARY:
• Former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter discusses his continued dedication to renewable energy in a Q&A session. (Colorado Politics)
• A Colorado oil and gas industry executive says the industry pays its fair share of state taxes, notably ad valorem taxes on production. (Colorado Springs Gazette)
• A Sunrun official says maximizing the utilization of batteries is more important to the company than their cost coming down. (Energy Storage News)