UTILITIES: Criminal proceedings are a window into self-dealing by executives and board members of the Bristol, Virginia energy, water and sewer utility. (The Daily Progress)
NUCLEAR:
• The TVA rejects a $38 million cash offer from a Nevada company for the unfinished Bellefonte plant. (Associated Press)
• Calls for Dominion Virginia Power to abandon a planned fifth nuclear reactor will be heard at its parent company’s shareholders meeting in South Carolina today. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
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FLORIDA: An opening on the Public Service Commission to be filled by Gov. Rick Scott draws a wide variety of applicants. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
SOLAR: Florida utilities speed up their investments and purchases of solar-generated electricity as costs continue to decline. (Politico Florida)
OFFSHORE DRILLING: The deadline is June 7 for public comments about the Dept. of Interior’s plans to expand drilling in the Gulf of Mexico for leases from 2017 to 2022. (Yes Magazine)
CLIMATE:
• A new report says the rate of sea-level rise in south Florida has tripled over the last decade. (WCQS Public Radio)
• Two Florida Congressmen struggle to attract members to their bi-partisan caucus to consider options for mitigating climate change. (Fox News Latino)
TRANSMISSION: Dominion Virginia Power and the Army Corps of Engineers appear to be making little, if any, progress over how to mitigate the impact of a proposed high-voltage power line over the James River. (The Virginia Gazette)
COAL:
• A popular public radio show at 10 a.m. ET today captures competing visions for the industry and its workers. (The Diane Rehm Show)
• A judge rules Alpha Natural Resources can break its contract with the United Mine Workers and modify its retiree health care plan. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)
• Despite its decline, Alabama Power says coal will remain its largest fuel for generating electricity for many years. (Alabama Media Group)
COAL ASH:
• The owners of land near a coal ash pond owned by Dominion Virginia Power which the utility bought are prohibited from talking about the quality of water found there. (Climate Progress)
• Dominion Virginia Power begins the year-long process of releasing treated water into a creek in Prince William County. (WTOP)
• A former assistant environmental secretary in North Carolina offers some guidance on interpreting tests of water quality near disposal sites. (Southern Alliance for Clean Energy)
GRID: Despite a small decline in overall generation capacity, the operator of the grid that includes parts of Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi says it will be able to meet summer’s peak demands. (Platts)
OIL & GAS: Much of Louisiana’s new-found growth in exporting liquefied natural gas depends long-term on demand in Asia. (Greater Baton Rouge Business Report)
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EFFICIENCY: Duke Energy outlines for customers in South Carolina myriad ways to reduce their power consumption. (The Herald)
COMMENTARY:
• A writer responds to questions raised about how Duke Energy is managing solar opportunities and coal ash challenges. (Florida Politics blog)
• Forget coal but help coal workers who’ve been layed off. (Bloomberg)
• A shareholder of Florida Power & Light’s parent company formally asks it to report annually on sea-level rise in south Florida. (Miami Herald)