SOLAR: A new PAC emerges to fight Amendment 4 on Florida’s August 30 primary ballot designed to give commercial property owners a tax break for renewable energy equipment purchases. (Florida Politics)

ALSO:
• The St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce joins a growing list of organizations endorsing Amendment 4 in Florida. (SaintPetersBlog)
• Louisiana residents who recently bought rooftop solar systems feel duped after the state runs out of money to fund tax credits meant to promote them. (New Orleans Times-Picayune)
• Two Kentucky utilities petition regulators to launch a community solar program. (Louisville Courier-Journal)

***SPONSORED LINK: Join climate advocates tomorrow, Thursday, August 4 from 12-1 p.m. ET on a webinar to learn about Climate Central’s research on “Global Warming and Sizzling Summers in the Southeast.” RSVP here.***

POLICY: In dismissing their appeal, North Carolina utility regulators order two non-profits to post a $98 million bond to contest a planned Duke Energy power plant while one of its leaders vows to persevere. (Charlotte Observer, Raleigh News & Observer)

COAL ASH: The battle over the safety of well water near coal ash ponds in North Carolina escalates as aides to Gov. Pat McCrory challenge sworn testimony of state toxicologist Ken Rudo. (WRAL, Winston Salem-Journal))

EFFICIENCY: The U.S. International Trade Commission rules a competitor to North Carolina-based Cree has been selling imported LED bulbs that infringe on Cree’s patents. (Charlotte Observer)

OIL & GAS:
• West Virginia leads 12 other states, including Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina and South Carolina, in suing the EPA over new limits on methane emissions. (The Hill)
• As much as 4,200 gallons of oil spill into the mouth of the Mississippi River, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. (New Orleans Times-Picayune)

UTILITIES: The TVA cuts its staff 15 percent as it finds the average cost of power across its seven-state region has declined by more than 8 percent over the past five years. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

BIOMASS: The Deptartment of Energy unveils a grant to the Research Triangle Institute in North Carolina to support development of biomass-to-hydrocarbon biofuels. (Dept. of Energy)

WIND: The county where Amazon Web Services is building a large wind farm extols the economic benefits to taxpayers and farmers. (Coastal Review Online)

COAL:
• “Steam coal” and a contract with Duke Energy are behind a deal under which Consol Energy unloads its coal operations in West Virginia. (Platts)
• A new memorial to those who were injured or died in mining coal is set to be unveiled this Saturday in Matewan, West Virginia. (The Logan Banner)

COMMENTARY:
• A retired Navy sonar expert and Florida mayor speaks out against seismic testing for oil and gas off Florida’s coast. (The Florida Times-Union)
• There would be a high cost of ignoring the role for more nuclear power in North Carolina. (Raleigh News & Observer)
• It is “time to wake up” and see coal companies for what they truly are doing to West Virginia’s mountains. (WOAY)
• Is it science or political expedience that is determining the safety of drinking water near North Carolina’s coal ash ponds? (Salisbury Post)