NUCLEAR: Initial bids, starting at $36.4 million, are due today for the purchase of the TVA’s unfinished Bellefonte plant in Alabama. (Associated Press)
SOLAR:
• A South Carolina utility launches a partnership with a leading developer to build community solar systems. (Moultrie News)
• Environmental and conservative groups team up to oppose a utility-backed solar amendment on Florida’s November 8 ballot. (Times News Service of Florida)
• A fee proposed for solar systems in Alachua, Florida riles opponents. (The Gainesville Sun)
• A unit of Florida-based NextEra Energy is set to take a minority stake in a California solar facility. (South Florida Business Journal)
• Duke Energy is guaranteeing funding for commercial projects to be financed by a major panel manufacturer and project developer it owns a majority stake in. (PV-Tech)
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NATURAL GAS: Liquefied natural gas shipped from a Louisiana export terminal has reached 11 different countries during its first six months of operation. (Forbes)
COAL:
• A public radio series explores the life of a modern-day coal miner in Appalachia. (West Virginia Public Broadcasting)
• Mining operations in Kentucky run by Jim Justice, a candidate for governor in West Virginia, have failed to pay more than $740,000 in federal taxes. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)
• A historical society in Kentucky explores developing a museum about coal mining in Appalachia. (Kentucky New Era)
• A nonprofit lending agency in West Virginia receives a $1.3 million grant to help communities devastated by the loss of coal-mining jobs. (Herald-Mail Media)
COAL ASH: Congress looks to boost ash recycling as states and utilities weigh different management and disposal options. (Public News Service)
CLIMATE:
• The Department of Agriculture is funding selected energy conservation projects for farmers in Alabama, Florida and other states. (Southeast Ag Net)
• Former South Carolina Republican Rep. Bob Inglis is expected to urge mitigation steps in a keynote speech today at the Carolinas Climate Resilience Conference. (Charlotte Observer)
VOLKSWAGEN EMISSIONS SCANDAL: A company engineer pleads guilty to one count of conspiracy in its efforts to cheat emissions tests of some its vehicles made in Chattanooga, Tennessee and elsewhere. (New York Times)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: National Drive Electric Week features numerous events throughout the Southeast through Sunday. (Southern Alliance for Clean Energy)
UTILITIES: Florida Gov. Rick Scott seeks to coordinate recovery from hurricanes among the state’s energy utilities. (POLITICO Florida)
WEST VIRGINIA: West Virginia University today hosts an energy forum featuring Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz on ways to accelerate energy innovation. (Associated Press)
COMMENTARY:
• Piecemeal steps in Florida can’t mitigate the serious risks of rising sea levels. (Tampa Bay Times)
• Congress should vote to shore up coal miners’ pensions and health benefits. (Huntington Herald-Dispatch)
• One North Carolina lawmaker says the state is ideal for offshore wind. (PolitiFact / Raleigh News & Observer)
• The Atlantic Coast Pipeline can help address an “energy-supply squeeze” in Virginia’s Hampton Roads region. (The Virginian-Pilot)