SOLAR:
Ten Southeast states are among those altering their solar energy policies, led by changes in utility bill credits for excess power generation. (Greentech Media)
•  The American Legislative Exchange Council joins Duke Energy’s bid to block a small solar system built by a third party for a North Carolina church. (PoliticsUSA)
• Will solar energy plummet if the federal Investment Tax Credit fades away? (The Wall Street Journal)
• The mayor of North Charleston, South Carolina calls on Congress to extend the existing 30% renewable energy Investment Tax credit beyond 2016. (Southern Alliance for Clean Energy)
Solar bulk-purchasing coops are growing in West Virginia for homes and small businesses. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)
• A dairy farm in Virginia activates a 557-kilowatt solar system to eliminate most of its power bill. (Lancaster Farming)
Solar developers in North Carolina increase their search for projects outside the Tar Heel State after expiration of a state tax credit. (Charlotte Business Journal)
• There is increasing investor scrutiny of business models of solar companies growing their sales forces in the Southeast U.S. (Seeking Alpha)

CLEAN POWER PLAN: A forum draws diverse views on how best to achieve South Carolina’s targeted emissions cuts under the Plan. (Florence Morning News)

NORTH CAROLINA: The EPA puts the state on notice that it risks losing its authority to regulate industrial water pollution and air pollution. (McClatchy Newspapers)

PIPELINES:
• A South Carolina town’s experience with two area pipeline spills serves up a cautionary tale for a newly-proposed pipeline. (Morris News Service)
Two GOP congressmen align with coastal environmentalists to oppose drilling off South Carolina’s coast. (The Post and Courier)
Kinder Morgan alleges Georgia altered its siting rules in rejecting a proposed pipeline route through Georgia and keeps lobbying for its approval.  (Morris News Service; Savannah Morning News)

COAL:
Hillary Clinton’s proposal for $30 billion in aid for people suffering from the decline of the coal industry is drawing mixed-to-hostile responses. (Politico)
• Appalachia struggles to prepare for life as coal mining declines. (The Christian Science Monitor)
• The number of West Virginia mines producing coal in September fell to 107 compared to 544 in 2005. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)
• While more coal-fired power plants in the U.S. close, those remaining are expected to more than make up the difference in the amount of coal burned. (Bloomberg)

CLIMATE:
• A 13-year-old sues North Carolina for neglecting steps needed to deal with climate change. (Raleigh News & Observer)
• Preservationists are wary of a Dominion Virginia Power plan to mitigate sea-level rise surrounding a river it wants to build a power line over. (The Virginia Gazette)

BLANKENSHIP TRIAL: Attorneys for the former coal baron ask the judge to reject testimony of 12 miners who complained about unsafe practices. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)

ALTERNATE FUELS: North Carolina soon will host a $25 million steam plant that uses turkey waste as its fuel. (Fayetteville Observer)

OIL & GAS:
Oil refineries in Louisiana and other coastal areas face a flooding risk from rising sea levels that could contaminate surrounding areas. (EnergyWire)
• The number of North Carolina cities set to buy power from an in-state natural gas plant built by a Florida company now tallies eight. (Charlotte Business Journal)

Jim Pierobon, a policy, marketing and social media strategist, was a founding contributor to Southeast Energy News. He passed away after a long battle with pancreatic cancer in 2018.

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