Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities


** Biden to announce climate actions but stop short of declaring an emergency
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Wednesday, July 20, 2022
President Joe Biden delivers a statement during the COP26 U.N. Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland. Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz ([link removed])

President Joe Biden is expected to announce ([link removed]) new steps his administration will take to combat climate change at an event in Massachusetts today, but will stop short of declaring a national climate emergency that would unlock new tools for driving down greenhouse gases, the White House said Tuesday.

Biden's announcement will take place six days after the collapse of negotiations aimed at getting a climate bill through Congress ([link removed]) due to the intransigence of West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, and while millions of Americans suffer a sweltering triple-digit heat wave and Western states struggle with the worst drought in more than 1,000 years.

Center for Western Priorities executive director Jennifer Rokala said in a statement ([link removed]) , “The time for vague policy commitments or under-defined statements of principles is long over. We need to hear specifics from the president about how he will reduce emissions from public lands, expand renewable energy projects, and accelerate protections of America’s public lands as national monuments and wildlife refuges.”


** Transformer at Hoover Dam catches fire
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An alarming video posted to Twitter ([link removed]) shows a transformer near the base of the Hoover Dam releasing a large plume of black smoke shortly after catching fire yesterday around 10 a.m. Pacific time. The fire was put out by firefighters within 30 minutes and did not injure any visitors or employees, according to a release from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation ([link removed]) , the federal agency that operates the dam and power station. The Hoover Dam stores water from Lake Mead ([link removed]) , and is the largest reservoir in the country by volume when full ([link removed]) . The dam’s generators help power public and private utility companies across Nevada, Arizona, and
California.
Quick hits


** Climate change makes weather disasters five times more common
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NPR ([link removed])


** Upper Basin states lay out plan to help Colorado River, urge Lower Basin states to chip in more
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Colorado Sun ([link removed])


** Report: U.S. prioritizes oil over renewables on public land
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E&E News ([link removed])


** Two privately owned Colorado 14ers are open to hikers thanks to a unique partnership—will it last?
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Colorado Sun ([link removed])


** Biden to announce climate actions but stop short of declaring an emergency
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Politico ([link removed]) | Bloomberg News ([link removed])


** Hidden gems and roads less traveled in five national parks
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New York Times ([link removed])


** Wildland firefighter reflects on how climate change has transformed the Gila National Forest
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El Paso Times ([link removed])


** Opinion: Public lands belong to all of us
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Coeur d'Alene Post Falls Press ([link removed])
Quote of the day
” Declaring a climate emergency doesn’t lower any emissions. You have to move on to acting like it’s a climate emergency, and I’m looking forward to those steps.”
—U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, E&E News ([link removed])
Picture this


** @NatlParkService ([link removed])
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Rare image of a bison stepping on a Lego. ⁣Be careful out there. Photo @GrandTetonNPS ([link removed])

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