RENEWABLES: Wind, solar and battery-storage projects totaling 15 GW and worth an estimated $20–25 billion move forward in Texas despite Republican backlash against renewables after they were falsely blamed for outages during February’s winter storm. (Bloomberg)

GRID: Bankrupt and now-outlawed Texas wholesale electricity provider Griddy demonstrates both the appeal and flaws of a deregulated energy market. (Texas Monthly)

WIND:
• Mississippi approves its first wind farm to be built on 13,000 acres and consist of up to 100 turbines. (Associated Press)
• North Carolina’s governor sets a goal for the state to develop 2.8 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030 and 8 GW by 2040. (News & Observer)

COAL:
• Striking Alabama coal miners say they’re being targeted for violence as they hold picket lines around Warrior Met Coal. (Associated Press)
• West Virginia regulators hear witnesses who argue American Electric Power should consider renewables, carbon capture and converting to natural gas as they decide whether to approve rate increases to cover environmental upgrades at three coal-fired plants that will also require approval in Kentucky and Virginia. (Charleston Gazette-Mail, Ohio Valley ReSource)
• West Virginia lawmakers launch an informal work group to help communities affected by coal plant and mine closures. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)
• Federal safety regulators press West Virginia mines to review best practices around powered haulage and rollover policies after two mining deaths last week. (WV Metro News)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Texas seems less likely to impose new taxes on electric vehicles after lawmakers failed to pass them this year and the industry sees significant growth in EV ownership, charging infrastructure and lobbying power. (KUT)

UTILITIES:
• Southeastern utilities seeking approval of a centralized energy exchange market file an updated proposal with more details for federal regulators. (Utility Dive)
• West Virginia lawmakers hold a town hall to collect public comments on proposed utility rate increases in South Charleston. (WV Metro News)

OIL & GAS:
• Exxon will invest $240 million at a refinery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to boost its crude oil capacity and improve pollution control. (Reuters)
• Nopetro LNG defends a proposed Florida liquid natural gas facility against arguments that it’s designed to elude federal regulation. (S&P Global) 

SOLAR:
• Florida Power & Light Company says it’s 40% of the way to its goal of installing 30 million solar panels by 2030. (Daily Energy Insider)
• A renewables company proposes a solar farm on 550 acres in North Carolina as residents say they’re concerned about its potential effects on tourism and the environment. (Salisbury Post)
• An Arkansas school district breaks ground on a solar farm expected to provide 80% of its energy. (Carroll County News)

EMISSIONS: Louisiana lawmakers advance a proposal allowing industrial plants to self-report and fix pollution violations in return for reduced fines and more confidentiality from the public. (NOLA.com)

POLITICS: The new Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in Virginia defends her flip-flop on accepting money from Dominion Energy by suggesting the decision came down to being able to fund her campaign’s voter outreach. (Virginia Mercury)

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Mason Adams

Mason has worked as a journalist since 2001, covering Appalachian communities and the issues that affect them. He compiles the Southeast Energy News digest. Mason previously worked as a wildlife biologist before moving into journalism by freelancing at Coast Weekly in Monterey, California, before taking an internship in 2001 at High Country News. He wrote for the Enterprise Mountaineer in western North Carolina and the Roanoke Times in western Virginia before going freelance in 2012. His work has appeared in Southerly, Daily Yonder, Mother Jones, Huffington Post, WVPB’s Inside Appalachia and elsewhere. Mason was born and raised in Clifton Forge, Virginia, and now lives with his family and a small herd of goats in Floyd County, Virginia.