FLORIDA: An audio recording reveals utilities’ strategy behind Florida’s Amendment 1 is “political jiu-jitsu” to undermine solar. (Miami Herald)

ALSO:
• Pat Boone is featured in a robo call for the 60 Plus Association in support of Florida’s solar Amendment 1. (Palm Beach Post)
• A new website answers frequent questions about the solar amendment. (American Solar Energy Systems)

COAL ASH:
• North Carolina’s governor claims during a debate that his controversial 2015 meeting with Duke Energy’s CEO was to discuss his impending veto of a coal ash bill; however, the claim doesn’t fit the timeline for the legislation. (WRAL)
• The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy upgrades its tool for tracking how coal ash is handled. (Southeast Energy News)

TRANSIT: Voters in the North Carolina county that includes Raleigh are to decide on a $2.4 billion transit plan Nov. 8. (Southeast Energy News)

TECHNOLOGY: Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory accidentally discover a way to turn CO2 into ethanol. (Popular Mechanics)

POLICY: West Virginia regulators rule that units of FirstEnergy serving the state do not have to accept bids for new power plant capacity. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)

UTILITIES:
• Bolstering distribution and transmission lines against extreme weather may be a lifeline to boost utilities’ earnings. (Bloomberg)
• AARP strongly objects to Florida Power & Light’s proposed $811 million rate base hike and asks to delay a hearing. (Protecting Your Pocket blog, News Service of Florida)

SOLAR: Homeowners in Mississippi extol the virtues of their rooftop system. (SunHerald)

NATURAL GAS:
• A natural gas-fueled power plant proposed by a private developer along the Elizabeth River in Virginia clears its first regulatory hurdle. (The Virginian-Pilot)
• Coal plant retirements are seen driving up natural gas prices. (Utility Dive)

COMBINED HEAT & POWER: Duke Energy asks North Carolina regulators for permission to build its first combined heat-and-power plant. (Charlotte Business Journal)

NUCLEAR:
• Federal regulators issue licenses to engineers for operating the Plant Vogtle reactors under construction in Georgia. (World Nuclear News)
• Budget cuts in Virginia eliminate next year’s funding for a reactor research center. (Lynchburg News Advance)

BIOMASS: A biotechnology center in North Carolina embarks on a three-year study of sorghum as biomass for fuel. (Biofuels International)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Baton Rouge boosts its charging stations in part to draw “green” businesses. (Associated Press)

WIND: A letter from a state epidemiologist reminds officials in a Tennessee county that there are “no health risks associated” with wind turbines. (Crossville Chronicle)

PIPELINES:
• A Virginia county votes not to sell an easement for the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline. (Roanoke Times)
• Dozens more opponents of a compressor station in Virginia for the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline speak out against it. (WMRA)
• Protestors camp out to protest the proposed Sabal Trail line in north Florida. (Valdosta Daily Times)

COMMENTARY:
• Two newspapers recommend voting against Florida’s solar Amendment 1. (Miami Herald, Panama City News Herald)
• Dominion Virginia Power’s plans for more natural gas power plants could increase carbon emissions by as much as 83%. (Power for the People VA blog)
• The proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline will serve the common good. (Augusta News Leader)
• The Navy’s push into renewable energy in Virginia should light the way for every American. (Virginian-Pilot)