PIPELINES: Dominion Energy rescinds a request to build a 13-mile natural gas pipeline along a recreational trail in Durham, North Carolina, after reports that the utility and state government had not informed city officials of the plan. (NC Policy Watch)
COAL: A federal judge denies a request from coal companies owned by the family of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice to dismiss a lawsuit over violations for discharging the chemical selenium at a coal mine. (WVPB)
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ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Virginia cities are leading the way in the state on electric vehicle adoption and infrastructure. (Greater Greater Washington)
GREEN NEW DEAL: A progressive Virginia group held a virtual Green New Deal Virginia Coalition Summit with state officials and activists to discuss clean energy, climate change and racial justice. (Electrek)
SOLAR:
• Fifth Third Bank recently became the first Fortune 500 company to power with 100% renewable energy by purchasing power from a 1,400-acre solar farm in North Carolina. (Yale 360)
• The largest county-owned solar project in Arkansas, a 2 MW array, begins operations. (Talk Business & Politics)
HYDRO: Federal scientists say a technology that would use powerful ocean currents as a source of baseload electricity has reached an “important milestone.” (E&E News, subscription)
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OIL & GAS:
• Kentucky and West Virginia are among the states that have introduced bills or passed laws in recent years that increased penalties for interfering with oil and gas activity or disturbing government meetings. (Grist)
• A play in rural Kentucky takes on the fracking industry and Appalachia’s long history of extraction. (Scalawag)
• Plaquemines Parish is struggling from the collapsing oil market on which its local economy relies. (WWNO)
COMMENTARY: The Environmental Working Group says its investigation shows that Duke Energy policies harm low-income customers even though it claims to make affordability, efficiency and renewable energy access a priority. (EWG)