GRID: A first-of-its-kind plan to create a regional electricity market in the Southeast could boost renewables by allowing utilities to buy and sell surplus generation, though skeptics are wary of the companies’ intentions. (E&E News)

UTILITIES: Municipal utility board members raise legal concerns about the Memphis city council’s decision to block a consulting contract to study alternatives to buying power from the Tennessee Valley Authority. (Commercial Appeal)

***SPONSORED LINK: Help Fresh Energy ensure that clean energy is at the center of rebuilding our economy. Join Fresh Energy at their October 22 Virtual Benefit Breakfast fundraiser with keynote speaker Dr. Leah Stokes, a national expert on energy, climate, and environmental politics. Register here.***

POLICY: A Virginia legal rule that bars cities and counties from exercising power not explicitly granted to them by the state is hampering local efforts to make progress on clean energy goals. (Virginia Mercury)

CLIMATE: A Virginia county adopts a climate action plan with strategies and actions to reach its goal being net-zero community-wide by 2050. (Daily Progress)

SOLAR:
• Electric cooperatives in Virginia, North Carolina and Oklahoma are among the participants in a three-year research program to test ways to make solar more accessible for low-and moderate-income customers. (Solar Power World)
• An Atlanta manufacturer that placed first in an American-made solar contest receives a 20 MW order from a Georgia solar developer. (Solar Power World)
• A power company seeks approval to build a natural gas and solar “resiliency project” at the U.S. Army’s Fort Sill in Oklahoma. (Daily Energy Insider)
• A program proposed by Duke Energy would build 10 new solar plants in Florida through 2024, including at one site in Gulf County. (WJHG)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Documents filed with Texas environmental regulators suggest Tesla might be planning to manufacture its own batteries as well as electric vehicles at its Austin gigafactory. (Austin Business Journal, subscription)
• South Carolina regulators approve two Duke Energy pilot programs to expand  residential charging stations and public fast chargers. (news release)
• A nonprofit touts the growth of electric vehicles in Alabama, where registrations increased 40 percent year over year. (Alabama Political Reporter)

WIND: A Danish company that makes threaded bolts for the wind power industry will establish its first U.S. manufacturing facility outside Richmond, Virginia, as part of an emerging offshore wind cluster. (Henrico Citizen)

COAL ASH: Cleaning up pollution at Georgia Power coal ash ponds involves a process called dewatering, which is now underway at six sites. (WGXA)

COMMENTARY:
• A George Mason University professor says a government-backed foundation could help speed the spread of new clean energy technology. (The Conversation)
• An environmental group calls on Texas regulators to end the practice of routinely flaring natural gas. (EDF Energy Exchange)

Avatar photo

Dan Haugen

Dan has two decades' experience working in print, digital and broadcast media. Prior to joining the Energy News Network as managing editor in December 2017, he oversaw watchdog reporting at the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, part of the USA Today Network, and before that spent several years as a freelance journalist covering energy, business and technology. Dan is a former Midwest Energy News journalism fellow and a member of Investigative Reporters and Editors. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communications from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.