Climate change

The region is experiencing unusually warm and dry conditions, scientists find, and snowpack is at record lows for this time of year

A federal judge on Monday struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order blocking wind energy projects, saying the effort to halt virtually all leasing of wind farms on federal lands and waters was “arbitrary and capricious” and violates U.S. law. Oregon and California were among the parties seeking the ruling.

The Bureau of Land Management on Monday announced its approval of a controversial lithium mining exploration project in Southeast Oregon’s Malheur County near the Nevada state line.

Oregon’s EV footprint has been steadily increasing, with more than 126,000 registered electric vehicles in the state as of August. But public charging ports have struggled to keep up.

A California program created to help residents buy electric bikes has been canceled, leaving advocates questioning why it ended so suddenly.

The nonprofit Energy Trust of Oregon is encouraging residents to invest in heating and cooling pumps, solar panels, before federal money goes away.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek issued an executive order meant to get agencies to identify barriers to clean energy projects and transmission and find solutions by 2027.

California state officials are in Brazil for the annual United Nations climate conference. The visit highlights California’s role as a climate leader and supports its environmental policies, especially since the U.S. has no official federal delegation. However, some critics question whether the trip is worthwhile because California lacks the power to make international agreements.

Legal experts, including a former federal official and UCLA professor, say California could go it alone if the federal government stops regulating greenhouse gases. One reason to try is to protect the state’s clean-car economy.

A boom in data centers and the end of federal vehicle emissions standards means Oregon will fail to meet its 2035 greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal by two years, according to an analysis completed this month. But state officials pushing to drastically cut carbon emissions say it’s not too late to get back on track.

A massive heat wave is hitting the Pacific Ocean from Kamchatka to California.

Leaders in conservative and liberal states alike have long touted the benefits of a region-wide market. But some skeptics worry about merging the power systems of states with varying climate goals.