SOLAR:
• The Community Power Network has launched its first solar bulk-purchasing cooperative in Florida, its 38th across the U.S. (Orlando Sentinel)
• Duke Energy called a group’s proposal to sell solar power to a church in Greensboro, North Carolina ‘unlawful.’ (Triangle Business Journal)
• Duke Energy sold its stake in a rooftop solar joint venture to Integrys Energy Systems. (Charlotte Business Journal)
RENEWABLES: A trade group asserts the Energy Information Administration significantly underestimates the potential of renewable energy sources, misinforming Congress. (InsideClimate News)
EMISSIONS: Legal experts expect the Supreme Court to hand down today its decision on limiting mercury and toxic emissions by power plants. (Associated Press)
POLITICS: Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia asserts Republicans can win on environmental issues while still denying climate change. (Politico)
CLEAN POWER PLAN: The Endangered Species Act may become a tool, at least in Florida, to contest the U.S. EPA’s Clean Power Plan. (Greenwire)
COAL: A jury convicted a former Kentucky lawmaker of bribing a coal mine inspector to win favorable treatment for surface mines he owned. (Kentucky Herald-Leader)
COAL ASH:
• Critics assert Dominion Virginia Power is jumping the gun on the closure of coal ash ponds that pose a long-running pollution risk to the Potomac River. (Associated Press)
• Told to drink bottled water, Belmont, North Carolina residents lash out at Duke Energy over possible contaminated water near a coal ash pond. (Charlotte Business Journal)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Georgia has mistakenly charged hybrid vehicle owners a new fee meant for owners of electric vehicles to begin July 1. (WABE Public Radio, Atlanta)
• The Georgia Alternative Fuel Vehicle Road Show spotlights cars fueled by electricity, natural gas and propane. (The Valdosta Daily Times)
POPE’S U.S. VISIT: Republicans say they will welcome Pope Francis to Capitol Hill this fall — even if he challenges them on climate change. (The Hill)
PIPELINES: Business groups in North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia are speaking out in favor of the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline. (Augusta Free Press, Virginia)
FRACKING: Seismologists are installing a network of monitoring stations in northeastern Kentucky to gauge impacts of hydraulic fracturing. (Lexington Herald-Leader)
OFFSHORE DRILLING: Citing risks to military readiness, the Sierra Club urged the Obama administration to remove Virginia from is plan for offshore oil and gas development. (Daily Press, Virginia)
UTILITIES:
• Shunning Duke Energy, Winterville, North Carolina has approved a 20-year agreement to purchase electricity from a new power provider in 2018. (The Daily Reflector)
• The Johnson City, Tennessee municipal utility is considering managing its power supply under a new and separate entity. (Johnson City Press)
COMMENTARY:
• The proposed solar choice amendment to Florida’s Constitution deserves more scrutiny – opinion. (Palm Beach Post)
• Follow Google’s lead on renewable energy – editorial. (TimesDaily, Florence, Alabama)
• Pope Francis’ message about climate change should resonate with people of all beliefs – editorial. (The Gainesvile Sun)
• It’s time for North Carolina to start preparing for rising sea levels – editorial. (The Raleigh News & Observer)