OIL AND GAS: Florida Sen. Marco Rubio says he wants the state to receive a share of revenue generated by drilling in the gulf, but also filed legislation to extend the ban on drilling. (Tampa Bay Times)

ALSO:
• A Louisiana parish said Tuesday it will receive a $45 million settlement from BP for damages related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill, after the local government was one of a few to opt out of the larger settlement. (Associated Press)
• Six oil and gas companies must produce documents and answer questions about their oil exploration and production near Louisiana in response to a lawsuit filed over damages to coastal wetlands. (Times Picayune)

***SPONSORED LINK: Ready to network, learn, and strategize at Solar Power Southeast? Receive a 15% discount on your registration when you use code P15SACE17. Sign up today to secure your spot at one of the top solar conferences in the region. Solar Power Southeast is May 11-12 in Atlanta.***

NUCLEAR: Georgia Power is still turning a profit off the construction of two nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle despite delays and cost overruns. (WRBL)

COAL ASH: North Carolina and a company moving coal ash for Duke Energy are appealing a ruling that permits were improperly issued by state officials for coal ash storage. (Fayetteville Observer)

COAL:
• Efforts are underway in Virginia to repurpose abandoned coal mines, with an emphasis on revitalizing and diversifying local economies, including a farm and a vineyard. (WVTF)
• A Democratic pro-coal group says rolling back regulations and ignoring climate change will do little to help the industry. (Midwest Energy News)

POLICY: President Trump plans to nominate an aide to Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell to serve on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which is currently without a quorum. (Associated Press)

SOLAR: A Memphis utility is planning to install solar panels at a Nike facility as part of TVA’s efforts to award solar generation projects to local companies. (Commercial Appeal)

PIPELINES: Several historic buildings in a small Virginia town would be within the “impact radius” if there was a break in the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline. (Roanoke Times)

UTILITIES: Duke Energy reported a slight increase in first-quarter profits and overall growth, though the company may cut jobs as a cost-savings measure. (BPR, Charlotte Observer)

COMMENTARY:
• A look at how a proposed transmission line could bring wind energy from Texas to states in the Southeast. (Southern Alliance for Clean Energy)
• Georgia lawmakers’ pipeline review process causes an unnecessary delay that hurts residents. (The Telegraph)
• Drilling off the coast of South Carolina is bad for both environmental and economic reasons. (Island Packet)
• President Trump should look back at the Obama administration’s actions over oil and gas exploration off the Atlantic Coast, say editorial boards in North Carolina and Virginia. (News & Observer, Virginian-Pilot)
• TVA says it is improving its safety culture, but only time – and its employees – will tell. (Knoxville News Sentinel)