COAL ASH: A showdown in court over claims that Dominion Virginia Power is violating federal law governing ash disposal could set a legal precedent. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
ALSO:
• The TVA seeks comments on it plans to convert from wet to dry storage of ash in Kentucky. (Associated Press)
• Georgia Power estimates it will spend up to $2 billion to close its coal ash ponds. (Macon Telegraph)
NUCLEAR:
• Regulators order Florida Power & Light to fix water quality problems in its earthen cooling canal system serving the Turkey Point plant. (Palm Beach Post)
• Federal regulators approve the collection decommissioning costs from ratepayers for Entergy’s Arkansas Nuclear One unit. (RTO Insider)
RENEWABLES: Southern Co. issues $1.1 billion in “green” bonds to finance new generation from renewable sources. (PV-Tech)
UTILITIES: An enhanced oil exploration firm alleges fraud in a lawsuit against Southern Co. over delays at its Kemper coal-gasification project in Mississippi. (Mississippi Watchdog)
SOLAR:
• A new report by a leading environmental nonprofit spotlights how utilities can jump-start solar power in struggling communities. (Southern Environmental Law Center)
• College Park, Georgia is the focus of a new solar power push. (South Metro Neighbor)
COAL:
• A citizens lobby sends letters to the CEOs of three coal companies asking them to create a trust for laid-off employees. (CleanTechnica)
• Florida Power & Light files to buy and phase out a coal-fired power plant. (POWER)
WIND: The North Carolina Senate approves a bill to ban wind farms within five miles of the state’s military bases and their flight paths. (Raleigh News & Observer)
CLIMATE: Despite rising sea levels and frequent flooding, developers are marketing storm-resistant and resilient buildings in South Florida. (ClimateWire)
EFFICIENCY: A university weighs in on what utilities in North Carolina are doing to promote and finance efficiency. (University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill)
COMMENTARY:
• Solar energy in North Carolina keeps defying its obstacles. (Fayetteville Observer)
• The TVA’s decreasing carbon emissions help customers lower their own footprints. (The Chattanoogan)
• Congress must pay what coal miners are owed: their pensions. (The Morehead News)
• North Carolina wind farms deserve support. (Raleigh News & Observer)