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POLITICS: Coal-friendly West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin will lead the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)
RENEWABLES:
• The U.S. will get more energy from wind and solar next year and less from coal, according to the Energy Department. (Houston Chronicle)
• Georgetown, Texas locked in long-term renewable contracts and was unable to sell the surplus this summer, putting it $6.5 million over budget. (KVUE)
• Competitive bidding allows renewables to compete against fossil fuels in the Southeast. (E&E News, subscription)
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SOLAR:
• A Texas co-op procures 26 MW of solar, with construction of one project set to be completed by the end of next year. (Power Engineering)
• Florida regulators extend Florida Power & Light’s voluntary solar partnership program for another year. (Florida Daily)
• Four Waynesboro, Virginia schools may install solar panels to help power operations. (Daily Progress)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Elon Musk announces a Tesla service center is coming to Knoxville, Tennessee. (Knoxville News Sentinel)
PIPELINES: Virginia residents will discuss clean energy alternatives to natural gas pipelines at a town hall in Staunton tonight. (Augusta Free Press)
COAL: The Orlando Utilities Commission launches studies to determine whether it should shut down two coal-fired power plants. (Orlando Sentinel)
COAL ASH: Alabama Power says bills could increase next year because of efforts to close coal ash facilities. (Montgomery Advertiser)
OIL & GAS:
• The U.S. government is helping the natural gas industry make major profits at the expense of the environment. (Texas Tribune, Center for Public Integrity)
• A West Virginia couple sues a natural gas facility that operates close to their property, alleging negligence because of fumes and odor. (West Virginia Record)
• Texas added 2,300 oil and gas jobs in October, marking 23 months of job growth, according to an industry association. (Houston Chronicle)
• Siemens plans to dismiss 200 workers at a gas turbine plant in Houston because of low global demand. (Reuters)
• Miami-Dade County officials look to get more compressed natural gas buses to replace their aging fleet. (Miami Today)
OFFSHORE DRILLING: The renewed search for oil along Florida’s coastline could have major impacts on marine life. (Orlando Weekly)
COMMENTARY:
• Texas and the rest of America, not OPEC, are driving the global oil and gas market, an editorial board says. (Dallas Morning News)
• Local leaders in Florida are leading the fight against climate change, says a clean energy organization director. (Sun Sentinel)