Good Monday morning!
In the news today and from the weekend…
Grid:
- Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports that Hawaiian Electric acknowledges its equipment sparked a wildfire in Maui, but claims the blaze that leveled Lahaina ignited hours after the utility had de-energized its lines.
- The Texas Tribune reports Texans faced conservation pleas from ERCOT for four consecutive days. Houston was absolutely baking at 108°F over the weekend, so it was pretty miserable.
- Axios reports that Tropical Storm Idalia is forecast to make landfall on Florida as a major Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday, but high winds and storm surge flooding are expected to affect the region starting late Tuesday. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) declared an emergency for much of the state over the weekend as Idalia is expected to become a hurricane today and make landfall between Tampa and Tallahassee.
Mining:
- Inside Climate News reports that frontline communities in southern California’s “Lithium Valley” welcome the industry’s economic benefits, but worry about potential environmental impacts to the Salton Sea.
- Arizona Daily Star reports that a Utah startup plans to break ground on its lithium-iron phosphate battery cell manufacturing facility in Tucson, Arizona, in October.