CLIMATE: Leaders of the G7 nations pledge to decarbonize the global economy. (Associated Press)

POLITICS: A North Carolina Republican pledges $175 million to push his party to address climate change. (Politico)

COAL: A coal company and utility seek help from West Virginia regulators to rescue a financially struggling coal plant. (PennEnergy)

SOLAR:
• After a heated debate, Louisiana lawmakers vote to cut tax credits for solar arrays. (New Orleans Advocate)
• Construction workers testify against legislation that would slow solar growth in North Carolina. (Fayetteville Observer)
• A Georgia co-op offers community solar to its members. (WABE)
• A Virginia utility’s philanthropic arm seeks to install 1 kW solar arrays at public schools. (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

OIL AND GAS:
• The Army Corps of Engineers approves a permit for a controversial Louisiana fracking project. (New Orleans Times-Picayune)
• Industry groups continue to push a “forced pooling” bill in West Virginia, which would require landowners to lease their mineral rights if 80 percent of neighbors do so too. (Charleston Gazette)

PIPELINES: A pipeline operator is still trying to determine what caused a 24-inch natural gas line to rupture beneath the Arkansas River last month. (Arkansas Online)

TECHNOLOGY: At an event in New Orleans, Elon Musk says he’s “not really a fan of disruption.” (New Orleans Times-Picayune)

UTILITIES: Security experts warn utilities that substations are vulnerable to attacks. (SNL)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: The Department of Energy announces a new initiative to partner with utilities to promote electric vehicles. (The Hill)

CLEAN ECONOMY:
• A new report ranks North Carolina among the top states for clean energy venture capital investment. (Triangle Business Journal)
• Could a “Silicon Holler” rise in Kentucky coal country? (Reuters)

COMMENTARY:
• Why big companies are defending North Carolina’s renewable energy standard. (Environmental Defense Fund)
• South Carolina should focus on bringing solar power to low-income households. (The State)

Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy and is a founding editor of both Midwest Energy News and Southeast Energy News. Prior to joining Fresh Energy, he was the managing editor for online news at Minnesota Public Radio. He started his journalism career in 2002 as a copy editor for the Duluth News Tribune before spending five years at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, where he worked as a copy editor, online producer, features editor and night city editor. A Nebraska native, Ken has a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.