NUCLEAR: Toshiba is reportedly withdrawing from the nuclear construction business after suffering major losses on the Plant Vogtle project in Georgia; advocates say work should be halted on two Florida reactors the company is slated to build. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Palm Beach Post)

COAL ASH:
• The TVA sees a coal ash trial starting this week as an opportunity to clear up “misinformation.” (Nashville Public Radio)
• A county NAACP chapter joins the opposition to a proposed North Carolina coal ash site. (Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald)

COAL:
• West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice sends a letter to state employees urging them to “never show nor accept favoritism” when dealing with companies he owns. (West Virginia Public Radio)
• Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell leads the effort to overturn a federal stream protection rule as his state formally joins a lawsuit challenging it. (WAVE, The Gleaner)
• Polluted tap water is part of the legacy of coal mining in a Kentucky county. (West Virginia Public Radio)
• A start-up technology company in rural Kentucky is helping create new opportunities for out-of-work coal miners. (Forbes)

CLIMATE:
• A new study finds a significant increase in carbon capture investment will be needed to meet global climate goals. (InsideClimate News)
• Miami Beach embarks on a $100 million project to adapt to sea level rise. (Miami Herald)

OIL AND GAS:
• A new bill to ban fracking in Florida draws bipartisan support. (InsideClimate News)
• Donald Trump’s plan to pay for infrastructure using fossil fuel revenue requires a series of implausible events, including a significant increase in the price of oil. (InsideClimate News)

SOLAR:
• A solar developer sues Duke Energy, saying the utility unlawfully refused to enter agreements with large solar projects. (Triad Business Journal)
• A new nonprofit loan program will help Virginia small businesses invest in solar. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
• A South Carolina town imposes a 60-day moratorium on new solar applications amid concerns about two large-scale projects. (Salisbury Post)
• Former President Jimmy Carter issues a statement in support of solar power following the completion of a 1.3 MW project on land he owns in Georgia. (Solar Industry Magazine)

UTILITIES:
• A Louisiana utility is spending $58 million to update aging natural gas infrastructure. (New Orleans Times-Picayune)
• An aluminum smelter sues South Carolina’s state utility, saying it was required to buy electricity at above-market prices. (Associated Press)

Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy and is a founding editor of both Midwest Energy News and Southeast Energy News. Prior to joining Fresh Energy, he was the managing editor for online news at Minnesota Public Radio. He started his journalism career in 2002 as a copy editor for the Duluth News Tribune before spending five years at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, where he worked as a copy editor, online producer, features editor and night city editor. A Nebraska native, Ken has a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors.