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)