COAL: The Speaker of the House in West Virginia calls for a review of coal-mining regulations and other factors that could contribute to catastrophic flooding in the state. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)
ALSO:
• A court-approved plan for Alpha Natural Resources to exit Chapter 11 includes the sale of three mining complexes in West Virginia. (Platts)
• An exodus of senior executives signals a pullback by the last major bank to fund coal operations. (The New York Times)
• After issuing a public warning, Murray Energy says it doesn’t expect to lay off any of the 4,400 miners who work for it in West Virginia and other states. (Associated Press)
COAL ASH:
• North Carolina regulators are probing whether contaminants from a Duke Energy coal ash pond found in a lake that supplies Charlotte with water violate state law. (Charlotte Observer)
• Opponents at a hearing lash out at a Dominion Virginia Power ash storage plan. (The Virginian-Pilot)
WIND: The author of a bill to restrict wind systems in North Carolina will try again next year. (Raleigh News & Observer)
PIPELINES:
• Dominion tries to condemn land from reticent owners in South Carolina. (The State)
• A new study by a geologist hired by Virginia opponents of the Mountain Valley Pipeline says its proposed route poses significant risks. (The Roanoke Times)
HYDROPOWER: Federal regulators deny Duke Energy a 10-year extension of a permit to manage the Catawba River, on which it operates several dams. (Charlotte Observer)
NUCLEAR: Florida regulators delay until 2018 roughly $280 million in ratepayer charges sought by Florida Power & Light for building two proposed reactors. (Palm Beach Post)
UTILITIES:
• Duke Energy launches drones to help monitor ground-based solar systems throughout North Carolina. (Charlotte Business Journal)
• The Virginia Supreme Court rules in favor of Dominion Virginia Power in a dispute over taxing the natural gas it uses to generate power. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
COMMENTARY:
• North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory should veto the legislature’s unacceptable compromise on managing the state’s coal ash. (WRAL)
• It’s up to environmental advocates to ensure that North Carolina executes next steps to deal with its coal ash challenges. (Blue Ridge Times-News)
• Flooding from extreme precipitation ups the ante in how West Virginia deals with climate change. (York Dispatch)
• Dominion Virginia Power and environmental advocates should look for useful ways to recycle coal ash. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)