UTILITIES:
• The CEO of TECO Energy’s new parent company says its Tampa-based utility will focus on the “transformation of energy towards cleaner and cleaner alternatives.” (The Tampa Tribune)
• Southern Co. and Duke Energy top the latest tally of utilities and affiliated PACs contributing the most money to politicians. (Electric Light & Power)
WIND: A new report projects that Virginia could see as many as 14,000 jobs in the offshore wind industry over the next 15 years. (The Virginian-Pilot)
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NUCLEAR: Florida presses Florida Power & Light to fix the seepage of cooling water from its Turkey Point plant into the Biscayne Bay. (Miami Herald)
PIPELINES:
• Dominion insists the delay of its Atlantic Coast Pipeline will not affect the projected in-service date. (Charlotte Business Journal)
• The cancellation last month of the Palmetto Pipeline and announced delay of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline signal rising challenges to natural gas companies. (Grist)
SOLAR:
• A high school in Chesapeake, Virginia shows off its recently activated rooftop solar system, the largest of its kind in Virginia. (The Virginian-Pilot)
• Two months before it is to be activated, a community solar project by an electric co-op in Virginia is about 75 percent subscribed. (WDBJ)
• Commissioners in a North Carolina county withdraw permission for a large solar farm amid a zoning debate. (The Times Leader)
• South Carolina Electric & Gas announces plans for six new solar systems totaling 36 megawatts. (WJBF)
EFFICIENCY:
• Deltec Homes in North Carolina amps up its development of pre-fabricated, net-zero energy homes. (Curbed)
• Greenville, North Carolina tackles new LEED projects to build on its reputation as one of the nation’s most efficient cities. (Reflector)
COAL ASH: The battle in North Carolina between environmental groups and Duke Energy over the utility’s ash management plans heats up. (Charlotte Observer)
DIESEL: In a joint venture with Valero Energy, Diamond Green Diesel plans to expand existing production at its Norco, Louisiana plant by about 60 percent. (Biodiesel Magazine)
COAL: Two federal energy agencies are trying to convert coal to jet fuel using biomass-derived solvents. (Pittsburgh Business Times)
***SPONSORED LINK: Register today for Solar Power Southeast, May 25-26 in Atlanta. This year’s event will include educational sessions as well as a completely sold out exhibit floor. Get a 15% discount with code SPSE16SACE. ***
CLIMATE: Virginia establishes a new loan program to help homeowners and businesses deal with rising sea levels, but lawmakers have yet to fund it. (The Virginian-Pilot)
COMMENTARY:
• Getting wind-generated power to the Southeast shouldn’t be this hard. (MIT Technology Review)
• Don’t drill offshore — or survey either. (The Post and Courier)
• Floridians should vote “yes” on Amendment #4 to exempt solar systems from property taxes. (Southern Alliance for Clean Energy)
• We should try to save the coal industry. (The Ledger Independent)