OVERSIGHT: A new Virginia law giving lawmakers the power to freeze rates – potentially a boon for utilities – may face a challenge in the state Supreme Court. (Southeast Energy News)
NUCLEAR: A report finds the Department of Energy fails to protect whistleblowers from retaliation. (McClatchy)
***SPONSORED LINK: How should regulators respond to Georgia Power’s expansion of electric vehicle charging stations? Vote here.***
COAL:
• A West Virginia report predicts coal will continue to decline before the industry stabilizes: “You see a bottom forming. We’re not necessarily there yet.” (MetroNews)
• A Virginia congressman pushes an amendment in the U.S. House to double the EPA’s spending on coal mine reclamation to $10 million. (Bluefield Daily Telegraph)
• An Alabama utility says it is “confident” a coal plant it operates is not responsible for a nearby fish kill. (AL.com)
UTILITIES:
• Southern Company’s CEO sees electrification of the economy as a key driver of future U.S. growth. (EnergyWire)
• Advocates say “the influence of the utilities and all of the money they get” is to blame for the state’s “terrible” energy policy. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)
FLORIDA: A new report finds more than 140,000 “advanced energy” jobs in the state. (SaintPetersBlog)
SOLAR:
• The Florida Realtors back a measure creating new tax exemptions for solar, background information here. (Builder News, Southeast Energy News archive)
• The Florida League of Women Voters plans to organize solar buying co-ops in the state. (SaintPetersBlog)
• Construction of three Virginia solar projects is expected to create 800 short-term jobs. (WRIC)
OIL AND GAS:
• A new report maps fracking operations off the Gulf Coast. (New Orleans Times Picayune)
• Unable to block a drilling project, a Louisiana parish plans new regulations to limit impacts. (New Orleans Times Picayune)
EQUITY: Neighbors are calling plans to revive an idled natural gas plant in a predominantly black New Orleans neighborhood an “environmental injustice.” (ColorLines)
COMMENTARY:
• Why clean energy is booming in conservative states. (Nexus Media)
• What a conservative climate action agenda might look like. (Grist)