SOLAR: A Virginia government agency that oversees energy and mining development launches a technical assistance program to help local governments with solar projects. (Energy News Network)
COAL: Companies owned by West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s family, including some coal mine operators, have been involved in more than 600 lawsuits over unpaid bills in more than two dozen states. (ProPublica)
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OIL & GAS:
• Texas lost more than 26,000 oil and gas industry jobs in April due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Houston Chronicle)
• The coronavirus pandemic has stalled pipeline projects in Louisiana as the oil industry struggles. (New York Times Magazine)
• Louisiana poured $20 million into restoring a coastal island damaged by oil and gas infrastructure before cutting its losses and cancelling the project. (NOLA.com)
• A federal judge approves a bankruptcy filing by West Virginia-based Longview Power as the company prepares to build a new natural gas plant. (Kallanish Energy)
• A New Orleans company hires a financial adviser to raise $4 billion from investors for a new liquefied natural gas export terminal. (The Advocate)
• Louisiana considers legislation that would ban local governments from prohibiting utility connections like natural gas hookups; Oklahoma and Tennessee have already passed similar laws. (Bloomberg)
WIND: Dominion chooses a company to provide marine support services for its offshore wind project near Virginia. (Offshore Engineer)
UTILITIES:
• Florida Power & Light uses drones to assess possible damage to power plants and solar farms during and after storms. (WQCS)
• Gulf Power says it received about $6 million less in customer bill payments in April due to the pandemic. (Pensacola News Journal)
• Some Florida utilities are extending “no late fee” and “no shut off” policies to help folks struggling to pay bills. (WCJB)
RENEWABLES: Georgia organizers work to make progress on clean energy projects amid the pandemic. (Institute for Local Self-Reliance)
COMMENTARY: Charleston, South Carolina, officials should address climate change in its pandemic response to better prepare the city and grow the economy, an editorial board writes. (Charleston City Paper)