ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Duke Energy and Southern Co. are among companies signing on to a joint statement pledging to “drive the market transformation to electric vehicles.” (Washington Post)

POLITICS:
• Advocates push Virginia’s governor to pull back on fossil fuels as time runs out on his term. (Southeast Energy News)
• Republican delegates from the Southeast are among those concerned about their party’s stance on climate change. (ClimateWire)

SOLAR:
• A Kentucky rural co-op files an application for an 8.5 MW community solar array, which would be one of the largest in the state. (Glasgow Daily Times)
• With a major solar project under development at a nearby military base, officials in an Alabama county discuss expanding solar to public buildings and schools. (Dothan Eagle)

COAL: A report blames a lack of safety oversight in the recent death of a Kentucky coal miner. (Lexington Herald-Leader)

PIPELINES: Adding new pipeline capacity will prevent the U.S. from hitting emissions targets under the Paris climate agreement, according to a new report. (Reuters)

OIL AND GAS:
• Shell plans to cut jobs in its offshore drilling operations in the Gulf. (New Orleans Times-Picayune)
• Advocates say proposed new water rules would weaken standards on chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing. (Florida Today)

UTILITIES: North Carolina regulators could vote as early as October on Duke Energy’s proposed takeover of Piedmont Natural Gas. (Triad Business Journal)

COMMENTARY:
• “The people who live near the ash impoundments have good reason to mistrust state regulators.” (Fayetteville Observer)
• A report finds solar is most under attack in states where the industry is thriving. (Environment America)