Feds Pause Nevada Lithium, Geothermal Projects Over Wildlife Concerns


GEOTHERMAL: Federal land managers rescind their approval and launch a new review of the proposed Dixie Meadows geothermal project in Nevada after a toad that lives on the site receives endangered species protections. (Nevada Current)

ALSO: Pasadena, California, agrees to purchase 25 MW of geothermal power from a facility in the northern part of the state. (Pasadena Star-News)

LITHIUM: The federal Bureau of Land Management pauses proposed exploratory lithium drilling near a Nevada wildlife refuge following environmental opposition and launches a full environmental review of the project. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

OIL & GAS:
 Navajo Nation advocates clash with tribal leaders during a U.S. House committee hearing on Republican legislation that would rescind an oil and gas leasing ban around Chaco Culture National Historical Park. (Cronkite News)
• A California county agrees to relax some of its oil and gas land-use rules while preserving drilling setbacks to settle litigation brought by the industry. (Ventura County Star)
• 
New Mexico regulators consider regulating the oil and gas industry’s use of PFAS following calls from environmentalists to ban the “forever chemicals.” (Santa Fe New Mexican)  
• A federal court considers a California commercial fishermen’s lawsuit accusing two shipping companies of contributing to a 25,000-gallon crude oil pipeline spill off the southern coast of the state. (Seafood Source)
• 
Officials in the Permian Basin acknowledge oil and gas development has caused an uptick in earthquakes, but say the industry’s economic benefits outweigh its seismic impacts. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)

WIND: Construction begins on the second phase of a 454 MW wind power facility on a working cattle ranch in northern Arizona. (Arizona Republic)

ELECTRIFICATION: Oregon lawmakers adopt a goal of installing 500,000 heat pumps in residential and commercial buildings by 2030. (Utility Dive)
(FOX13) 

TRANSPORTATION: Utah’s transportation department plans to reduce traffic congestion on a route to a ski area by upgrading the busing system, restricting single occupancy vehicles and building an eight mile-long gondola(Deseret News)

UTILITIES:
 Nevada regulators approve NV Energy’s plan to temporarily reduce rates to offset utility bill hikes during the hottest months of summer. (Las Vegas Sun)  
 Rocky Mountain Power asks regulators to allow it potentially to pass on Oregon wildfire costs to Idaho customers. (Idaho Capital Sun)   

HYDROPOWER: California conservationists raise concerns about a pumped hydropower storage facility proposed for the Sonoma coast. (Press Democrat)

COMMENTARY:
• A California editorial board calls on Los Angeles officials to require cooling equipment in rental housing that could save lives during extreme heat events. (Los Angeles Times)
• 
A California energy journalist ponders the benefits and drawbacks of keeping the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant running as he tours the facility. (Los Angeles Times)

Source: Energy News

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