SOLAR:
• South Carolina’s state-owned utility approves a community solar program and increased rebates for solar panels. (Charleston Post and Courier)
• Utilities across the country are seeing opportunities in community solar. (Greentech Media)
• A Quality Inn in Harpers Ferry is being dubbed the first solar-powered hotel in West Virginia. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)
• Officials in a Georgia county are touting the benefits of more solar development. (WALB)
COAL:
• Researchers attempt to tally the impact of mountaintop removal mining in West Virginia. (The Atlantic)
• Coal interests in West Virginia continue to fight a new natural gas plant. (The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register)
CLEAN POWER PLAN: Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell sends a letter to governors urging them to stop work on the Clean Power Plan. (The Hill)
CLIMATE: The University of North Carolina backs away from a plan to be coal-free by 2020, instead setting a goal of being greenhouse gas-neutral by 2050. (Daily Tar Heel)
WIND: Inland wind farms may be coming soon to South Carolina. (Charleston Post and Courier)
NUCLEAR: An industry group wants more “efficient” rules for decommissioning power plants. (Utility Dive)
OIL AND GAS: Environmental activists plan a rally at the Louisiana Superdome this week to protest offshore oil and gas leases. (Grist)
PIPELINES:
• A Georgia county reaches a settlement with a pipeline developer that includes a $5 million insurance policy. (Albany Herald)
• A Virginia judge sides with pipeline developers over granting survey crews access to private property. (News Virginian)
BIOENERGY: How Duke Energy’s biogas plan will help it meet North Carolina renewable energy requirements. (Charlotte Business Journal)
TRANSPORTATION:
• Despite low oil prices, an electric bus company with a production facility in South Carolina is still seeing strong demand for electric buses. (Triple Pundit)
• North Carolina state agencies are switching to smaller, more efficient vehicles. (WRAL)
COMMENTARY:
• Are “hysterical and unfounded safety claims” holding back Florida on fracking? (Sun-Sentinel)
• South Carolina’s governor should “acknowledge the legitimate concerns” about offshore drilling. (Greensboro News and Record)
• Federal officials have taken “a significant step” on pipeline safety. (Huntington Herald-Dispatch)
• How clean energy helped GM save $80 million. (Just Means)