CLEAN POWER PLAN: U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield of Kentucky unveiled a draft bill that would allow governors to veto compliance with the Clean Power Plan if the governor determines it would cause significant rate hikes for electricity or harm reliability in the state. (Associated Press)
CLIMATE: Popular scientist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson called Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s ban on official use of the terms “climate change” astonishing but also held voters responsible for electing him. (Sarasota Herald-Tribune)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY: South Korea-based light maker Wells Lighting will invest $30 million to manufacture light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs in Millen, GA. (Atlanta Business Chronicle)
COAL:
• The future of West Virginia’s coal-dependent economy and climate air draw sharply opposite predictions during U.S. Senate hearing. (The Charleston Gazette, also by West Virginia Public Broadcasting)
• Patriot Coal is idling the Samples surface mine and Winchester underground mine due to diminished demand for coal and a CSX railway disruption. (West Virginia Public Broadcasting)
UTILITIES:
• Duke Energy launches image-boosting advertising campaign throughout its six-state footprint in the Southeast U.S. (Charlotte Business Journal)
• Southern Company increased total compensation for Chairman Thomas Fanning 36% to $11.5 million. (Atlanta Business Chronicle)
• Sarasota, FL county commissioners are weighing a voter referendum that if approved would finance $109 million in energy infrastructure and public safety investments. (YourObserver.com, Sarasota)
• AEP, Dominion and Duke Energy are among investor owned utilities interested in buying Danville (VA) Power & Light. (Register Bee, Danville)
• Indian River County in Florida is set to ask the Florida Supreme Court to overturn a decision by state regulators that could shift its electric service to Florida Power & Light. (Palm Beach Post)
RENEWABLE ENERGY: Construction begins on 5.2 megawatt food-waste power plant in Charlotte, NC owned by Blue Sphere Corp. (Charlotte Business Journal)
OIL & GAS:
• Three natural gas pipelines planned through Virginia are reigniting coordinated citizen protest movements. (Virginia Public Radio)
• Charlotte, NC-based Piedmont Natural Gas wins court’s backing to condemn land surveyed to transport fracked natural gas via the Constitution Pipeline. (Charlotte Business Journal)
• Virginia’s U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner urge developers of the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines planned through central Virginia to answer questions about their safety. (The News Virginian, Waynesboro)
OFFSHORE DRILLING: The Charleston, SC City Council is taking up a resolution opposing offshore drilling and the use of seismic testing to survey for oil and natural gas off the South Carolina coast. (Associated Press)
COMMENTARY: “Atmospheric reemployment” — not “climate change” — is how Florida’s emergency management chief explained the state’s disaster-recovery plans. (Palm Beach Post)