RENEWABLES: Texas has 227 GW of wind, solar and battery storage projects waiting to connect to the backlogged power grid, more than any other state. (Quartz)
POLITICS:
• Republican North Carolina lawmakers introduce legislation to impose a 10-year moratorium on state permits for offshore wind projects, which would likely affect transmission lines and other infrastructure. (Wilmington StarNews)
• Tennessee lawmakers pass several laws to encourage fossil fuels and block clean energy initiatives, including measures defining natural gas as “clean energy” and preempting cities from enacting more energy efficient building codes. (WPLN)
SOLAR:
• Virginia regulators consider a 160 MW solar farm plus an electric substation and other transmission infrastructure that’s prompting opposition from residents who say it threatens vital woods and wetlands. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
• The world’s largest tool company celebrates a 4.3 MW Kentucky solar farm that provides all of its power. (Electrek)
• An energy company proposes a 125 MW solar farm in Louisiana. (American Press)
• A company places flags to mark the site of a proposed 50 MW solar farm in Virginia ahead of a public hearing on the project. (Lynchburg News & Advance)
• A 20 MW solar facility in New Orleans represents Entergy’s shift from fossil fuels ahead of the city council’s 2050 deadline to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. (WWL)
• Energy and roofing companies announce the completion of a 475 kW solar array atop a Miami-area library. (Solar Power World)
NUCLEAR: Georgia Power reports the completion of a key test before powering up the fourth reactor in its long-delayed expansion of nuclear Plant Vogtle. (Associated Press)
OIL & GAS:
• A gas company says it will appeal a federal agency’s denial of its request to extend from 2025 to 2028 the deadline to begin shipping liquified natural gas from its planned export terminal in Louisiana. (The Advocate)
• A Florida law firm is storing samples of tar, water and other evidence from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill as cleanup workers sue BP over lingering health issues. (WPBF)
COAL: Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power ask West Virginia regulators for a fuel cost rate hike as state officials criticize the utilities for not considering longer-term coal contracts they say would have lowered costs and resulted in more coal-fired power. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)
HYDROGEN: In Texas oil and gas country, Entergy develops a $1.5 billion natural gas power plant that will also run on hydrogen. (Washington Post)
HYDROPOWER: Federal officials consider renewing the license of an Oklahoma dam that’s the subject of numerous complaints from local officials, residents and tribes. (E&E News)
GEOTHERMAL: West Virginia University researchers plan to drill a geothermal and carbon capture data-collection well this month. (news release)
GRID: North Carolina lawmakers, a federal agency and Duke Power officials look for ways to shore up grid security after gunfire at two substations knocked out power for more than 40,000 people in December. (Spectrum News)
UTILITIES: Dominion Energy asks Virginia regulators to roll riders for the cost of two natural gas plants and a coal- and biomass-fueled plant into its base rates and use securitization to lower fuel costs. (Virginia Mercury)
COMMENTARY: The head of an energy website praises the city of Austin for announcing a solar canopy to power its fleet of 200 electric buses, but dings Texas lawmakers for passing a bill to impose a $200 annual fee on electric vehicle drivers. (CleanTechnica)
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