COAL: The head of Kentucky’s coal trade group says it’s time to move beyond “war on coal” rhetoric. (Lexington Herald-Leader)
ALSO:
• Kentucky’s energy chief acknowledges the outlook for coal is bleak. (WFPL Public Media)
• Despite a worsening revenue shortfall, West Virginia moves closer to a multi-million tax cut for its coal and gas companies. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)
• Bankrupt Alpha Natural Resources announces planned layoffs in West Virginia for the third time in a month. (Associated Press)
• The Kentucky House passes a bill to make the coal industry eligible for economic incentives. (Associated Press)
SOLAR:
• A Florida home builder says it’s including rooftop solar systems on all new homes this year. (News 13)
• A new housing development in Florida aims to run entirely on solar power. (Fort Myers News-Press)
• A California installer jump-starts project development in the increasingly fertile South Carolina solar market. (Charlotte Business Journal)
• A North Carolina town adds permitting rules for large solar systems. (The Times-News)
• Mississippi Power and the Defense Dept. plan to build a 4 megawatt solar system at the Naval Battalion Center in Gulfport. (WLOX-TV)
• A Florida lawmaker tries a seventh time to break up the utility monopoly there. (TC Palm)
CLIMATE:
• The mayor of South Miami wants to raise consciousness about climate change. (Miami Herald)
• Two members of Congress from Florida move to create the “Climate Solutions Caucus.” (Climate Progress)
WIND: Voters in an Arkansas will decide if they want permitting control over a site for a controversial wind farm. (Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
FRACKING: Interest in exploring a shale play in eastern Kentucky wanes. (WFPL Public Radio)
LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS: Activists decry federal regulatory approval of an LNG export terminal on Georgia’s coast. (Savannah Morning News)
COAL ASH: The nation’s tab for disposing of toxic coal ash is pushing well into the billions of dollars. (Associated Press)
POLICY: More members of Congress support legislation to accelerate a $1 billion aid package for coal-dependent communities. (Kingsport Times News)
OFFSHORE DRILLING: A Navy veteran defends moves to open the Atlantic coast to drilling. (Palmetto Business Daily)
OIL & GAS: A sheen of oil from the Virginia side of the Potomac River appears to be dissipating but its source is still known. (Washington Post)
PIPELINES:
• The tally of Virginians facing the prospect of pipelines crossing under or near their land grows. (Washington Post)
• South Carolina moves to remove the power of eminent domain from for-profit pipeline developers. (Morris News Service)
• Expansion of a popular Virginia resort is threatened by the path proposed for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. (The Roanoke Times)
COMMENTARY:
• Dominion Virginia Power’s growing natural gas business presents a conflict of interest in mitigating climate change. (The Virginian-Pilot)
• The administration of North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory should stop trying to hurt the solar industry. (Wilmington StarNews)
• Florida should learn from a 2013 fracking accident near the Everglades. (Florida Today)
• Will Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe honor Dominion Virginia Power or the Paris climate accord? (The Virginian-Pilot)