NUCLEAR: Despite setbacks in other states, a Virginia utility is moving forward with plans for a new nuclear reactor. (Southeast Energy News)

ALSO:
• Nuclear contractor Westinghouse is expected to file for bankruptcy as early as tomorrow. (Reuters)
• A consumer advocacy group warns that Georgia Power customers could end up taking on more of the costs to build Vogtle plant. (WABE)
• Entergy continues to face equipment and safety challenges at its Arkansas Nuclear One plant nearly four years after one worker was killed and eight others were injured. (Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette)

TRANSMISSION: A Tennessee county commissioner says Sen. Lamar Alexander is putting “his own agenda ahead of what’s best for West Tennessee” in his opposition to a clean energy transmission line. (Memphis Flyer)

SOLAR:
• Why New York is outpacing Florida on solar development. (The Guardian)
• Advocates say a Virginia community solar pilot program is a step in the right direction but doesn’t go far enough to advance solar in the state. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
• Officials in a Florida county decided not to include solar panels in the parking lot of a new, multi-million library in Marathon, saying it would take too long to recoup the investment. (Miami Herald)
• An app created by Google shows 91 percent of New Orleans buildings are solar power viable. (Times-Picayune)
• A South Carolina co-op calls its new community solar project “a true symbol of innovation and cooperation.” (The Times and Democrat)

OIL AND GAS:
• Georgia’s state Senate unanimously approves a bill to create new fracking regulations. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• The West Virginia state Senate approves bills that roll back tank safety standards, and is expected to act this week on legislation to weaken water pollution protections and allow “forced pooling” of mineral rights. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)
• Kentucky authorities are investigating whether the owner of an environmental services company dumped hazardous materials on the horse farm he owns as crews continue to cleanup oil in a nearby river. (Courier-Journal)

PIPELINES:
• The latest version of a Georgia pipeline bill removes specific protections for coastal areas. (Savannah Morning News)
• West Virginia regulators approve a key water permit for the Mountain Valley Pipeline. (Roanoke Times)

COAL:
• Lawmakers of coal-producing states are threatening a partial government shutdown and other tactics to prevent health care benefits from expiring in April for more than 22,000 retired coal miners. (McClatchy)
• Vice President Mike Pence addresses West Virginia’s struggling coal industry during a visit there, saying, “The war on coal is over.” (Metro News)
• There was a second coal slurry spill Thursday evening in Boone County, West Virginia; the first spill was reported that morning. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)

COMMENTARY:
• While federal policy on climate change is headed in the wrong direction, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has a chance to make the state a clean energy leader and show the cutting climate pollution makes a stronger economy. (Roanoke Times)
• The North Carolina Audubon Society pushes back on “overly burdensome limits on wind energy development” in the state. (Raleigh News & Observer)
• “The question has to be asked: Did coal voters get conned?” (Roanoke Times)

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Ken Paulman

Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy and is a founding editor of both Midwest Energy News and Southeast Energy News. Prior to joining Fresh Energy, he was the managing editor for online news at Minnesota Public Radio. He started his journalism career in 2002 as a copy editor for the Duluth News Tribune before spending five years at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, where he worked as a copy editor, online producer, features editor and night city editor. A Nebraska native, Ken has a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors.