PIPELINES: Twenty-two Virginia legislators urge Gov. Ralph Northam and health officials to halt construction on the Mountain Valley Pipeline during the pandemic, citing the health risks from an influx of workers. (WFXR)
ALSO: Virginia’s U.S. senators propose legislation for the second time that would reform the federal pipeline review process. (Virginia Mercury)
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SOLAR: Culpeper County, Virginia, officials will hold a meeting next week about residents’ concerns that there are too many proposed solar farms on nearby farmland. (Culpeper Star-Exponent)
WIND: A proposed wind farm in Virginia moves forward as federal aviation regulators determine that making wind turbines 130 feet taller will not endanger passing aircraft. (Roanoke Times)
UTILITIES:
• TVA reverses course and rehires 102 workers it let go after President Trump complained it was replacing Americans with foreign workers — a misnomer since the number of employees working on H-1B visas is low. (Washington Post)
• North Carolina regulators allow Duke Energy to enact a temporary rate hike for customers and offset it by refunding customers $235.3 million annually from excess deferred taxes. (Charlotte Business Journal, subscription)
• South Carolina utility Santee Cooper agreed to pay its former top attorney $495,000 after he was fired earlier this year. (Post and Courier)
POLLUTION: The U.S. government and Louisville pollution authorities sue utility LG&E over Clean Air Act violations at a coal-fired power plant. (Louisville Business First, subscription)
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STORAGE: The Texas grid operator approves 12 GW of solar projects in seven months, but its battery backlog continues to grow. (PV Magazine)
COMMENTARY:
• Two former South Carolina lawmakers — one Democrat and one Republican — urge the state to oversee Santee Cooper more closely and ensure it invests in clean energy. (Post and Courier)
• A clean energy group examines energy policies and positions supported by David Perdue, the Republican nominee for Georgia’s U.S. Senate seat. (SACE)