COAL: American Electric Power subsidiaries consider whether to close a West Virginia coal-fired power plant in 2028 or make investments to keep it open longer. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)
COAL ASH: Texas’ push to take over regulation of coal ash disposal could insulate the coal industry from more aggressive regulation under President-elect Biden. (Texas Tribune)
UTILITIES:
• The Jacksonville City Council releases an investigation showing the Florida city’s former mayor skirted sunshine laws during a three-year effort to sell JEA, the taxpayer-owned electric utility. (Jacksonville Daily Record)
• Dominion Energy begins making its case for higher rates to South Carolina regulators in hearings expected to run from today through Friday. (The State)
OIL & GAS:
• The outgoing Trump administration extends five natural gas export licenses for terminals in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas through 2050. (Natural Gas Intelligence)
• West Virginia’s coal, oil and natural gas severance taxes fell far short of projections last month and were down 62% from December 2019. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)
• Atlanta-based Gas South acquires another company to become the largest retail natural gas provider in the Southeast. (Natural Gas Intelligence)
• A maker of pipes and tubes used by the oil and natural gas industry lays off 185 workers at a Texas plant. (Freight Waves)
SOLAR:
• Texas signs off on tax incentives for a planned 206 MW solar farm. (Houston Business Journal)
• A Florida county board looks set to confirm a previous vote to prevent a 74.5 MW solar project proposed by Gulf Power. (Northwest Florida Daily News)
• A southern Virginia planning commission denies a proposal to convert a golf course into a solar farm. (Martinsville Bulletin)
OVERSIGHT: Lame-duck President Donald Trump renominates a Tennessee Valley Authority board member after shaking up the body last year by removing two members, including its chairman. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
COMMENTARY: A Florida risk consultant talks climate change and what homeowners and state lawmakers can do to prepare for conditions in 2100. (South Florida Sun Sentinel/Florida Climate Reporting Network)