SOLAR: American solar panel maker First Solar announces it will build its fifth U.S. manufacturing plant in southern Louisiana — a $1.1 billion project that’s set to be the state’s largest ever capital investment. (Utility Dive)

ALSO:
• A nonprofit helped build a solar farm along a thin, 18-mile stretch of Georgia highway and hopes it inspires similar projects. (Ledger Enquirer)
• A nonprofit looks to help residents of a Florida county lower solar panel costs through a group buying program. (Tampa Bay Times)
• A South Carolina chemical maker will buy 85 MW of power from NextEra’s planned north Texas solar farm. (Post and Courier)

UTILITIES: Duke Energy files an updated resource plan for the Carolinas that calls for replacing coal plants with a mix of gas, renewables, battery storage and small nuclear reactors, disappointing clean energy advocates with its continued fossil fuel reliance. (WFAE)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• John Deere plans to build a battery plant and North American headquarters near Kernersville, North Carolina, to produce lithium-ion battery systems for off-road vehicles. (Winston-Salem Journal)
• Texas and Tennessee are among 30 states levying a registration fee on electric vehicles to offset gas tax losses, establishing another barrier to EV adoption. (E&E News)
• An auto parts supplier announces a $114 million investment to expand its Alabama facility to produce electric vehicle parts. (Associated Press)
• Tennessee offers incentives to EV suppliers, including $13 million companies associated with Ford’s forthcoming electric truck factory. (Center Square)
• Miami-Dade County, Florida schools add 20 electric buses to their fleet. (NBC 6)

POLITICS:
• Georgia leads the country on electric vehicle and clean energy investments despite climate denial from its governor and Republican leaders. (Fast Company)
• Republican-led states like Oklahoma and Texas are dominating clean energy deployment, but the GOP still looks to preserve fossil fuels as part of its 2024 campaign strategy. (Business Insider)

GRID: Louisiana’s public service commissioner asks electric utilities to stop shutting off customers’ service as the state remains under a state of emergency for extreme heat. (Louisiana Illuminator)

WIND: A Virginia state senator looks to lease a vacant lot he owns to Dominion Energy to store components for its $10 billion offshore wind farm. (Virginian-Pilot)

COAL: Madisonville, Kentucky, residents question Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities’ plans to replace four retiring coal plants with natural gas. (14 News)

CLIMATE:
• University of Miami scientists embark to study whether climate change is slowing the Gulf Stream, which could potentially raise sea levels in South Florida. (Tampa Bay)
• Kentucky’s Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear doesn’t make climate change an issue as he and other leaders break ground on new flood protection infrastructure in Louisville. (Louisville Public Media)

EFFICIENCY: A Galveston, Texas-area nonprofit partners with CenterPoint Energy to offer free energy efficiency upgrades to some residents amid an ongoing heat wave. (Fox 26 Houston) 

COMMENTARY: A venture capitalist urges Alabama’s congressional delegation to reform the federal permitting system to advance clean energy in the state. (Alabama Media Group)

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Kathryn brings her extensive editorial background to the Energy News Network team, where she oversees the early-morning production of ENN’s five email digest newsletters as well as distribution of ENN’s original journalism with other media outlets. From documenting chronic illness’ effect on college students to following the inner workings of Congress, Kathryn has built a broad experience in her more than five years working at major publications including The Week Magazine. Kathryn holds a Bachelor of Science in magazine journalism and information management and technology from Syracuse University.