CLIMATE: Studies show a dramatic surge in rising seas along the Gulf Coast and Southeast shores since 2010, raising concerns that coastal cities may be even more at risk of flooding than previously thought. (Washington Post)
SOLAR:
• North Carolina regulators approve a settlement between Duke Energy and several solar installers that will reduce credits for people with rooftop solar systems and add a mandatory minimum bill plus new monthly fees. (Raleigh News & Observer)
• A Virginia county board asks planners to gather information and public input to update its comprehensive plan to address large-scale solar facilities. (Roanoke Times)
• A roofing contractor seeks permits to build 15.75 MW and 5 MW solar farms in Virginia. (WMRA)
• A Florida couple complains their insurance company dropped them after they installed a large rooftop solar system, resulting in a likely doubling of their premium as they seek another carrier. (WFLA)
Sponsored Link
2023 State Energy Conference of North Carolina
Receive continuing education credits, learn about new energy solutions and best practices, and network with over 800 attendees at the 2023 State Energy Conference of North Carolina, April 25-26, in Raleigh N.C. Learn more and register at www.NCenergyconference.com
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Electric vehicle maker Canoo signs a 10-year lease for an Oklahoma property where it plans to manufacture its vehicles, including at least 4,500 for Walmart and 1,000 for the state of Oklahoma. (Journal Record)
• Texas electric vehicle owners are upset after state lawmakers advance a bill to impose new $200 registration fees on EVs in an effort to replace lost gas tax revenue. (Spectrum News)
PIPELINES: Environmental groups sue to challenge a federal agency’s biological opinion that construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline would not threaten endangered species. (Roanoke Times)
OIL & GAS:
• Contractors embark on the ambitious and often arduous task of plugging hundreds of thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells, including more than 4,500 “orphan” wells with no viable owners in Louisiana alone. (Washington Post)
• A Louisiana ammonia manufacturer upsets local officials and neighboring residents when it builds a $26 million, natural-gas powered boiler without obtaining any state or local permits. (NOLA.com)
COAL: West Virginia regulators consider a $36 million rate increase for FirstEnergy subsidiaries to purchase a coal-fired power plant otherwise slated for closure this summer. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)
UTILITIES:
• A Florida lawmaker files a bill to establish a board appointed by the governor to oversee a municipal utility. (Alachua Chronicle)
• Duke Energy opposes North Carolina lawmakers’ proposal to join a regional energy market in an effort to lower prices. (WFAE)
GEOTHERMAL: Federal officials visit the University of Oklahoma to indicate their interest in working with tribal leaders to convert hydraulic fracking wells to produce geothermal energy. (Stillwater News Press)
CRYPTOCURRENCY: A Bitcoin mine that was paid $18 million not to operate during Texas’ 2021 power grid emergency exemplifies how cryptocurrency operations place immense pressure on the power grid while finding novel ways to profit from doing so. (New York Times)
COMMENTARY:
• A Virginia state senator touts Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s amendment to legislation that would allow a particular biomass facility to sell renewable energy credits on the open market. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
• An analyst lobs a sharp dig at Texas lawmakers by comparing their plan to pay for new natural gas generation that will mostly remain idle to a similar scheme in California. (Bloomberg)
More from the Energy News Network: Midwest | Southeast | Northeast | West