Southeast Energy News

Florida utility quietly grows into ‘green Goliath’

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UTILITIES: Florida’s NextEra Energy has quietly grown into a “green Goliath” by relentlessly capitalizing on renewable energy subsidies. (Wall Street Journal)

COAL ASH: The U.S. EPA agrees to shift oversight of toxic coal ash in Oklahoma to state agencies, a first-of-its-kind move that the coal industry had sought and environmentalists opposed. (Associated Press)

***SPONSORED LINK: Listen to Electric Vehicles in the Southeast, a recent podcast from More Power To You. Download for free, on Apple Podcasts or on your app of choice. ***

WIND: A Tulsa suburb’s city council votes to hire a law firm to help it oppose the building of the Wind Catcher Energy Project.

Southeast Energy News

Coal ash contaminating groundwater across Ohio Valley, analysis finds

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COAL ASH: Most groundwater monitoring wells near coal ash disposal sites in the Ohio Valley show signs of leaking contaminants, and levels far exceeded federal drinking water standards at several sites, according to a new analysis. (WFPL)

PIPELINES: FERC denied a request for rehearing Friday by Mountain Valley Pipeline opponents, the final decision needed before a legal challenge can be filed. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

***SPONSORED LINK: Listen to Electric Vehicles in the Southeast, a recent podcast from More Power To You. Download for free, on Apple Podcasts or on your app of choice. ***

OFFSHORE DRILLING: North Carolina would have to pay more than $500 million for a waiver under a federal bill that would penalize states for opposing offshore drilling, which one Republican mayor compared to creating a “ransom”.

Midwest Energy News

Minnesota utility pledges 50 percent renewables by 2030

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RENEWABLES: Minnesota utility Great River Energy pledges to get 50 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2030. (Bismarck Tribune)

ALSO:
• Wisconsin’s Dairyland Power Cooperative continues to focus on its goal of diversifying its coal-heavy resource mix. (LaCrosse Tribune)
• John Deere announces sustainability goals that include getting 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources. (Quad-City Times)

***SPONSORED LINK: Capitalize on new opportunities in America’s next clean energy hot spot at the Illinois Energy Market Summit 2018, June 13-15 in Chicago. Connect with policy-makers, RTO executives, utilities, municipalities and cooperatives to learn the latest information on opportunities, uncertainties and strategies for future success in Illinois.***

COAL: Ohio coal baron Bob Murray wrote half a dozen executive orders for the Trump administration last year, new documents show.

Midwest Energy News

FirstEnergy says Trump bailout not enough to save coal, nuclear plants

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POWER PLANTS: A FirstEnergy Solutions executive welcomed President Trump’s coal and nuclear bailout offer but said “additional support at the state level will be necessary” to save jobs in Ohio and Pennsylvania.” (Beaver County Times)

ALSO:
• After declaring bankruptcy, FirstEnergy Solutions spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on lobbying, documents show. (Greentech Media)
• Exelon CEO Chris Crane says there is no emergency to justify power plant bailouts: “We would much prefer a market fix.” (Utility Dive)
• Two Illinois nuclear plants failed to fully clear PJM’s capacity auction last month, raising questions about their long-term financial viability. (Crain’s Chicago Business)
• Ohio communities worry about the economic fallout if FirstEnergy ends up closing its nuclear power plants in the state. (Gray DC)

***SPONSORED LINK: Capitalize on new opportunities in America’s next clean energy hot spot at the Illinois Energy Market Summit 2018, June 13-15 in Chicago. Connect with policy-makers, RTO executives, utilities, municipalities and cooperatives to learn the latest information on opportunities, uncertainties and strategies for future success in Illinois.***

SOLAR:
• A trio of Illinois bills awaiting the governor’s signature would establish rules for large, ground-mounted solar installations in rural areas.

Midwest Energy News

Missouri utility unveils $285 million energy efficiency plan

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EFFICIENCY: Ameren Missouri proposes $285 million in rebates as part of what it called the largest energy efficiency plan in state history. (St. Louis Business Journal)

UTILITIES: Kansas utility regulators need to undertake a comprehensive review of how rates are set, energy policy observers say. (Topeka Capital-Journal)

***SPONSORED LINK: Capitalize on new opportunities in America’s next clean energy hot spot at the Illinois Energy Market Summit 2018, June 13-15 in Chicago. Connect with policy-makers, RTO executives, utilities, municipalities and cooperatives to learn the latest information on opportunities, uncertainties and strategies for future success in Illinois.***

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Charging station availability and extreme weather that can hurt battery life are among the challenges for electric car sales in Chicago.