PIPELINES: A federal court rejects a permit for the Mountain Valley Pipeline to cross waterways in West Virginia, with a judge citing the project’s history of erosion and sedimentation control violations. (Roanoke Times, Reuters)
SOLAR:
• North Carolina avoids sunsetting its net-metering rules after environmental groups, utilities and industry work out an agreement to replace credits for rooftop solar with a variable payment rate that changes based on overall electricity demand. (Utility Dive)
• After temporarily withdrawing its proposal in December, an energy company returns to seek a permit for a 5 MW solar facility in a Virginia town. (Gazette-Virginian)
• A Texas county board hears a preliminary proposal from a company that wants to build a 151 MW solar plant. (Herald-Banner)
• A Louisiana order of nuns complains New Orleans’ poorly devised regulations have hampered investment in solar gardens that will make up its community solar program. (Louisiana Illuminator)
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GRID:
• Texas lawmakers consider a bill to use taxpayer money or increases to power bills to fund the construction of natural gas power plants that would be paid to stay offline except in emergencies when extra power is needed. (Dallas Morning News)
• A surge in power demand prompts a Virginia electrical cooperative to add its first new substation in 30 years. (Suffolk News-Herald)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Electric vehicle maker Canoo posts an $80 million loss in 2022, but its CEO says the company plans to ramp up production at its Oklahoma facilities. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
• A report finds that high real estate prices, zoning rules and other factors mean that publicly available electric vehicle chargers in Raleigh, North Carolina, have not kept up with the number of EVs on the road. (Axios Raleigh)
WIND: Google signs a 150 MW power purchase agreement with a company that operates a 268 MW Texas wind farm. (Greentech Lead)
RENEWABLES: Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power ask West Virginia regulators to approve a series of power purchase agreements for energy from solar and wind facilities in Virginia and Ohio. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)
NUCLEAR: The first of two new nuclear units at Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle generates power for the grid in one of the final steps before it begins regular operation. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
EMISSIONS: Researchers find the carbon intensity of emissions from oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico is double that of official estimates. (CNN)
COAL: Two FirstEnergy subsidiaries ask West Virginia regulators for more time to consider the purchase of a coal-fired power plant that’s otherwise slated for closure in June. (Dominion Post)
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EFFICIENCY: A Virginia county progresses through a conversion of streetlights to more efficient LED lights that’s expected to be complete by next year. (Tysons Reporter)
POLITICS: The public comment period closes on Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s push to remove the state from a regional carbon trading market. (WVEC)
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