Power company in Arizona to transition from coal to gas energy production

In the dynamic world of energy, several significant developments are taking place across the Western United States.

California startup Kairos has commenced construction on an experimental small modular nuclear reactor in Tennessee, marking a milestone in nuclear energy innovation. Meanwhile, Sawtooth Energy is planning to submit a proposal next month to the federal Bureau of Land Management for the development of a small modular nuclear reactor plant in southern Idaho, at the site of the stalled Lava Ridge wind facility.

California's grid operator is piloting a generative AI platform designed to automate and streamline the outage validation process, aiming to improve the efficiency and reliability of the state's energy infrastructure. California regulators have also approved Pacific Gas & Electric's proposed interim rule for connecting new data centers and large EV charging facilities.

In other news, Pacific Gas & Electric has filed plans to decommission the Potter Valley Project hydroelectric dams and powerhouse on the Eel and Russian rivers in California. The company has also agreed to pay a civil penalty of $45,273 for failing to report a 2023 natural gas pipeline release that seriously injured a utility employee.

Elsewhere, a pioneering 'second-life' battery startup, Canary, is expanding majorly in Texas. The country's biggest energy market is struggling to reform amid soaring costs, according to a new report from Canary.

In Colorado, La Plata Electric Association has signed on to purchase power from a local hydroelectric dam as it exits its contract with Tri-State Generation & Transmission. Google has also signed on to purchase electricity from Avangrid's Juniper IIB wind facility in Oregon to power data centers in northern California.

In the realm of renewable energy, energy firm Tallgrass has proposed an 1,800 MW data center and dedicated gas-fired and renewable power facilities near Cheyenne, Wyoming. Tucson Electric Power plans to convert two coal-fired units at its Springerville power plant in Arizona to gas by 2030.

Energy developments are not without controversy. California advocates are expressing concerns about Sable Energy's move to restart an offshore pipeline that ruptured in 2015, questioning the state's environmental fortitude. The federal Bureau of Land Management has also rescinded a plan to seek input on a proposal to restrict oil and gas drilling on more of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.

In the oil and gas sector, oil and gas operators in New Mexico spilled and failed to recover 422,000 gallons of produced water and other materials during the second quarter of this year. Nevada regulators have ordered NV Energy to provide more information on its proposed ratepayer-funded wildfire insurance plan.

A California energy journalist has recounted his experience of converting his home to all-electric and shutting off the gas, while a retired nuclear plant in Michigan is set to restart, marking a first for US nuclear energy.

These developments highlight the ongoing shift towards cleaner and more efficient energy sources, while also underscoring the challenges and controversies that accompany such transitions. Stay tuned for more updates on the dynamic world of energy in the West.