EMISSIONS: An Alabama coal plant is the nation’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, but for many the plant’s economic importance overshadows the impact. (Center for Public Integrity) 

NUCLEAR:
• Efforts are underway for Georgia Power to assume control of daily operations at the troubled Vogtle plant, though paperwork has not been filed with bankruptcy courts or federal regulators. (Aiken Standard)
• Troubled Westinghouse Co. has agreed for a new contract with employees who make nuclear components at a New Hampshire plant, ending a two-week lockout. (Associated Press)
• Georgia Power and Westinghouse Co. agreed to a 48-hour extension of an interim construction agreement at the Vogtle plant. (Nuclear Street)

CLIMATE:
• Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced Monday that Virginia is joining the bipartisan group U.S. Climate Alliance, started by the governors of California, New York and Washington in response to the U.S. exit from the Paris accord. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
• McAuliffe visited a community college to tout the state’s jobs in renewable energy, saying, “Forget President Trump. On clean energy … Virginia is going to lead.” (Virginian-Pilot)
• Florida leaders debate the economic impact of the U.S. leaving the Paris climate accord. (WLRN)

COAL: Mississippi Power said Monday it expects the Kemper plant to be fully operational on lignite coal by the end of the month, and the company is delaying proposals for how customers should pay for its $7.5 billion project. (Sun Herald, Associated Press)

UTILITIES:
• The North Carolina House of Representatives released on Monday energy policy reform legislation that focuses on the relationship between utilities and renewable energy providers. (North State Journal)
• Florida state regulators will not allow Duke Energy Florida to add $4.70 to customers’ bills beginning July 1 to cover rising fuel costs. (SaintPetersBlog)

OIL & GAS:
• The Trump administration is seeking permits for seismic testing to explore for oil along the Atlantic coast, raising concerns about environmental impact. (Associated Press)
• University of Georgia researchers will go on a 12-day expedition this month in the Gulf of Mexico to study the impact of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil disaster. (Ledger-Enquirer)

SOLAR:
• North Carolina solar workers worry about their jobs following the announcement of the U.S. exit from the Paris climate pact. (Washington Post)
• Ikea plans to install solar panels on top of its new Jacksonville, Florida, store. (Solar Industry)

COAL ASH: Less stringent coal ash rules in Kentucky won’t take effect until late July as part of a partial settlement reached recently. (WKYU)

PIPELINES: Opponents of the Mountain Valley Pipeline are asking FERC for another period of formal public comment before the release of the project’s final environmental impact statement. (Roanoke Times)

EFFICIENCY: Duke Energy is making energy efficiency improvements to nearly 1,900 Goldsboro, North Carolina, homes. (News-Argus)

COMMENTARY: The head of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters praises the governor’s “bold” actions to combat climate change. (Roanoke Times)