CLIMATE: A federal judge has dismissed two of the Trump administration’s key arguments against California’s cap-and-trade agreement with Quebec. (San Francisco Chronicle)

ALSO:
• Oregon businesses are considering their next move in the wake of Gov. Kate Brown’s executive order requiring state agencies to cut greenhouse gas emissions. (Statesman Journal)
• Santa Barbara County, California announces the launch of a new regional collaborative aiming to fight climate change. (news release)

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CALIFORNIA:
• A federal judge rules opponents of a $13.5 billion “bailout” for California power companies must show a state regulatory proceeding that resulted in rate hikes for a wildfire insurance fund was unfair. (Courthouse News Service)
• California regulators have officially certified a five-city community choice aggregation program planning to launch next year. (San Diego Union-Tribune)

HYDROPOWER: A new federal lawsuit filed by environmental groups says a Columbia River Basin water reallocation project violates the Endangered Species Act. (Bloomberg Environment, subscription)

COAL:
• Montana advances the application for a major expansion of the Spring Creek Mine and resolves concerns about owner Navajo Transitional Energy Company’s sovereign immunity. (Billings Gazette)
• An undetermined number of layoffs are set for Wyoming’s Buckskin Mine due to “the realities of the [coal] market.” (K2 Radio)

NUCLEAR: A federal nuclear regulator approves a nuclear waste storage facility near Carlsbad, New Mexico, finding a minimal impact on the environment despite concerns raised by opponents. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)

OIL & GAS:
• Kerr-McGee faces an $18 million fine from Colorado regulators for a suburban Denver gas explosion that killed two people and injured two others. (Colorado Independent)
• Alaska state regulators grant Hilcorp Energy’s request to keep the company’s finances confidential. (Anchorage Daily News)
• Permian Basin shale companies are among those across the U.S. reducing operations due to market volatility. (OilPrice.com)

OVERSIGHT: A Wyoming bill requiring oil, gas, coal, and uranium producers to pay taxes on a monthly basis cleared the legislature. (Wyoming Business Report)

POLLUTION: Utah’s air pollution problems are no longer a priority for state lawmakers due to COVID-19 fears and budget worries after failed sales tax reform. (Deseret News)

SOLAR: Utah-based solar installer Vivint set an annual record for solar installations last year and hopes to catch up on energy storage development. (PV Magazine)

STORAGE:
• A new report indicates California led the market for residential and non-residential energy storage in 2019, driven by power shutoffs to cut wildfire risk. (Axios)
• A San Diego renewable energy company wants to build a 140 megawatt storage facility in the city. (Valley Roadrunner)                     

TRANSPORTATION: A new report from a clean energy advocacy group finds that Colorado should “modernize” its gas tax to raise money for transportation infrastructure projects. (Colorado Springs Gazette)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: A college in California’s Central Coast region has installed 40 electric vehicle charging stations across its two campuses. (The Cuestonian)

Lisa is a Lenape and Nanticoke Native American freelance journalist, editor and writer currently based in the U.K. She has more than two decades’ experience working in corporate communications and print and digital media. She compiles the Western Energy News daily email digest. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Temple University; her specializations include data journalism and visualization. She is a member of the Native American Journalists Association, Investigative Reporters & Editors, Society of Professional Journalists, and the National Union of Journalists (U.K.).