COAL ASH: Environmental groups praise Duke Energy’s decision to excavate coal ash from 12 additional ponds and call for treating others the same way. (Charlotte Business Journal)
MICROGRIDS: Capacity from microgrids such as the Babcock Ranch facility in Florida is projected to double by 2020 and include a lot more renewables. (Greentech Media)
COAL: The West Virginia PSC is pressing AEP’s Appalachian Power to show why three shuttered coal-fired power plants cannot be reopened and converted to burn natural gas. (The Charleston Gazette)
UTILITIES:
• The Cobb Electric Membership coop in Georgia wants an unbuilt power plant to be certified as an existing plant to avoid proposed emissions regulations. (The Macon Telegraph)
• Florida-based NextEra Energy hires a prominent consulting group to help close its proposed acquisition of Hawaiian Electric. (Pacific Business News)
NORTH CAROLINA: More companies are asking state lawmakers to preserve the state’s renewable electricity requirement. (Charlotte Business Journal)
PIPELINES: A probe of the Spectra Energy pipeline along the Arkansas River that burst in May turns up several violations of Federal regulations. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
RENEWABLE ENERGY: An analysis finds renewables will generate twice as much power globally in 25 years but will likely fail to limit growth in emissions. (ClimateWire)
CLEAN TECH: The Cleantech Open Southeast has selected its “Accelerator Semifinalists” including those from Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina. (Southeast Green blog)
COMMENTARY:
• How Florida discriminates against solar power companies and the consumers they want to serve – opinion. (Forbes)
• Here are several ways to grow the market for solar power in Florida – opinion. (Southern Alliance for Clean Energy blog)