TEXAS: An independent watchdog firm hired by the state says Texas’ grid manager overcharged power companies by $16 billion over two days during last month’s storm-driven energy crisis. (Bloomberg)
ALSO:
• Fallout from last month’s storm continues as power companies see $47 billion in related costs, much of which will likely be passed on to customers. (Reuters)
• Texas’ attorney general sues a power company for allegedly deceiving customers with promises of inexpensive, “wholesale” electricity that skyrocketed during last month’s crisis. (Gizmodo)
• Texas must winterize its energy infrastructure or connect its electrical grid to avoid another major incident, experts say. (Reuters)
• One in four Texas power plants that were spot-checked by the state grid manager didn’t meet winterization recommendations. (KXAS)
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EFFICIENCY: The nonprofit responsible for developing model building energy codes used by cities and states nationwide finalizes a controversial plan to strip voting rights from thousands of public sector members — a move clean energy advocates fear will slow progress on energy efficiency. (Energy News Network)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• A Korean electric-vehicle battery maker with a Georgia factory is scolded by an international commission for destroying evidence that it stole trade secrets from a rival company. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• The electric utility in El Paso, Texas, partners with General Motors to offer customers discounts on electric vehicles. (KTSM)
COAL: West Virginia lawmakers consider a bill to prop up the coal industry by requiring in-state power producers to maintain 2019 coal consumption levels. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)
SOLAR:
• Facebook adds a 150 MW Mississippi solar farm to its fleet of solar plants that power two data centers in the Tennessee Valley. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
• Small-scale solar capacity grew 63% in Texas and 57% in Florida last year. (CleanTechnica)
• With the addition of a solar farm last summer, an Arkansas city now sources 70% of its power from renewables. (Booneville Democrat)
OIL & GAS:
• The CEO of a Permian Basin oil producer says she doesn’t foresee the industry returning to pre-pandemic production levels. (CNBC)
• Louisiana’s attorney general signs off on a settlement between an oil company and coastal parishes that alleged it caused environmental damage. (The Center Square)
UTILITIES: Florida regulators approve Gulf Power’s requests to recover costs from Hurricane Sally and to reduce a charge due to the early retirement of a coal plant. (Daily Energy Insider)
ADVOCACY: The North Carolina Clean Energy Business Alliance and South Carolina Solar Business Alliance merge to focus on energy issues in both states. (Charlotte Business Journal)
COMMENTARY:
• As the energy landscape shifts dramatically, Texas must reconsider its reliance on the oil and natural gas industries to fund public education, writes a newspaper editorial board. (Beaumont Enterprise)
• A newspaper editorial calls on a railroad to distance tanker cars containing petroleum and other chemicals from a residential neighborhood. (Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star)
• West Virginia lawmakers should establish and fund a solar power tax credit to defray installation costs for homeowners, writes a columnist. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)