SOLAR:
• A new market survey reveals a slowdown in North Carolina solar construction relative to other states. (Charlotte Business Journal)
• Projects planned in a South Carolina county will more than double the state’s solar capacity. (Post and Courier)

TRANSMISSION: Arkansas’ congressional delegation urges Energy Secretary Rick Perry to reverse an Obama administration decision authorizing a wind energy transmission line through the state. (KASU)

WIND: Six companies remain in the running to bid on a North Carolina offshore wind lease. (Triangle Business Journal)

OIL AND GAS:
• In a unanimous vote, a Florida Senate committee advances a bill to ban fracking in the state. (Miami Herald)
• How a Louisiana export terminal is helping the U.S. meet short-term natural gas needs in a global market. (Bloomberg)
• The Florida Senate president says he is committed to getting $300 million in settlement money from the 2010 BP oil spill for affected communities in northwest Florida. (SaintPetersBlog)

COAL:
• West Virginia senators approved to dismantle the wage-bonding requirement for certain industries, including coal and natural gas, which covers workers’ wages and benefits if the business closes. (The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register)
• A Kentucky bill would set aside $7.5 million a year to help diversify the state’s coal communities. (Lexington Herald Leader)
• Despite the continued decline of the coal sector, other areas of West Virginia’s economy are growing. (West Virginia Record)

NUCLEAR: Even though Kentucky is close to lifting a moratorium on nuclear waste storage in the state, “lifting the moratorium is not going to bring nuclear to Kentucky.” (WUKY)

UTILITIES:
• A Florida utility wants to pay the salary of a county employee that oversees its permits. (Miami New Times)
• A Florida bill would change the way members of the state’s Public Service Commission are appointed. (Orlando Sentinel)
• Two FirstEnergy subsidiaries plan to buy a natural gas coal plant to meet shortfalls in their West Virginia territory. (Parkersburg News and Sentinel)

COMMENTARY:
• A South Carolina newspaper argues in favor of a bill offering tax breaks for farmers to host solar arrays. (Post and Courier)
• Why Kentucky’s existing net metering policy is good for ratepayers. (Frankfort State Journal)
• “It is dangerous to imply that removing science-based environmental protections will bring back jobs.” (Union of Concerned Scientists)
• The Obama administration had a plan to save coal country. (Politico)

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.