POLITICS: A poll conducted by a new Virginia group – Conservatives for Clean Energy – finds broad support among Republicans for wind and solar power. (NBC 29)
RENEWABLE ENERGY: The Southeast fares poorly on a report ranking states on policies helping corporations access clean energy, with Virginia ranking highest at 20th and other states at 30th or lower. (Greentech Media)
***SPONSORED LINK: Join fellow advocates, renewable energy business leaders, utility staff and regulators at the sixth annual Clean Power Summit Feb 23-24 in Charleston, S.C. As a supporting sponsor, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy extends a 10% discount off registration. Use code: CECPS ***
SOLAR:
• Dominion Virginia Power completes 56 MW of new solar projects. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
• Duke Energy plans to build an 8.8 MW solar farm in Florida. (Charlotte Business Journal)
• Fayetteville, North Carolina considers a community solar project. (Fayetteville Observer)
• A North Carolina county passes a temporary moratorium on solar projects amid pushback over a large array being built on farmland. (Virginian-Pilot)
• A Florida town plans two new solar farms. (Orange Observer)
COAL:
• A bill in Kentucky would provide tax breaks for burning coal produced in-state. (Platts)
• In his farewell address, outgoing West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin says the coal industry “likely won’t ever return to the levels that we once saw.” (Associated Press)
VW EMISSIONS SCANDAL:
• Volkswagen agrees to pay $4.3 billion in fines over its use of software to evade emissions rules. (Reuters)
• Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam says VW’s expansion plans in the state are still on track despite the settlement. (Associated Press)
• Part of the VW settlement will help pay for engine upgrades in Louisiana school buses. (The Advocate)
NUCLEAR: Increasing concern about climate change is helping revive support for nuclear power. (PRI)
GRID: Dominion predicts blackouts for the Virginia Peninsula if a new transmission line is not built. (RTO Insider)
CLEAN POWER PLAN: A Virginia lawmaker seeks repeal of a rate freeze that was imposed in response to the Clean Power Plan. (Lynchburg News Advance)
***SPONSORED LINK: A Department of Energy webinar Thursday, Jan. 12 at 1 pm EST will discuss co-location of solar installations with agriculture. Register now. ***
UTILITIES: A Mississippi nonprofit wants to push more people to enter the energy workforce. (Mississippi Today)
COMMENTARY: Scholars examine the rhetorical devices used by industry to push the “war on coal” narrative. (Salon / The Conversation)