NUCLEAR: Groups sue Florida Power & Light alleging the cooling ponds for its Turkey Point nuclear plant have become an “open industrial sewer.” (Miami New Times)
ALSO: A malfunctioning pump motor triggers a brief alert at Duke Energy’s Brunswick nuclear plant in North Carolina. (WECT)
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SOLAR:
• A Republican state senator touts his plan to expand solar in Florida without subsidies. (Southeast Energy News)
• A Massachusetts company explores land for a solar system in Alabama that could supply electricity to a rural cooperative. (Decatur Daily)
• Dominion Virginia Power needs about 800 workers to complete three newly approved solar farms by the end of 2017. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
• Two companies complete a 3.9-megawatt solar system, the largest to date in Mississippi. (Semiconductor Today)
UTILITIES:
• Utilities serving Southeast states continue to rank among the lowest in the U.S. for developing renewable energy, a survey says. (Utility Dive)
• Florida Power & Light says its customers can expect their bills to remain below 2006 levels at least through 2020. (SaintPetersBlog)
COAL ASH:
• An attorney representing environmental groups in North Carolina vows to continue fighting for disposal methods that are safer than those allowed under a new state law. (Fayetteville Observer)
• An environmental attorney claims the TVA is breaking its promise over its new disposal plan. (Alabama Media Group)
• Companies are finding ways to recycle coal ash but it’s still piling up throughout the Southeast U.S. (Undark)
RENEWABLES: A survey by the Southern States Energy Board finds hydropower and wind energy increased 7.5 percent and 14.1 percent respectively in 2015 over 2014. (WKMS Public Radio)
CLIMATE: In South Carolina, a new initiative aims to protect coastal communities from flooding and rising sea levels. (Associated Press)
COAL: Alpha Natural Resources aims to complete its plan to emerge from bankruptcy by the end of this month. (West Virginia Public Broadcasting)
OIL & GAS: The House adopts an amendment sponsored by an Alabama congressman to protect Gulf states’ share of offshore drilling revenues. (Yellow Hammer News)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: A Virginia county approves zoning for a site that could host the second Tesla sales facility in the state. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
COMMENTARY: Duke University’s agreement to host a natural gas power plant compromises its climate legacy. (Southeast Energy News)