ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Virginia’s economic development agency blocks the release of more than 1,700 records related to Ford’s consideration of a state megasite for a battery plant and Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s rejection of the project. (Associated Press)
ALSO: Mississippi lawmakers consider legislation to require automakers to sell cars through a dealership, blocking the business model of electric vehicle companies like Tesla. (WLOX)
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SOLAR:
• A federal judge grants a restraining order to freeze the assets of a solar company after Kentucky and Tennessee attorneys general receive hundreds of customer complaints. (WBIR, WSMV)
• A developer proposes a 20 MW solar farm in Virginia. (Smithfield Times)
• Tampa Electric begins operating three new Florida solar farms, with another 230 MW of solar power under construction. (Osprey Observer)
OIL & GAS:
• A liquified natural gas company seeks partners in India to garner support and investment for construction of an export terminal in Louisiana. (S&P Global)
• A pipeline company projects oil production in the Permian Basin to grow by as much as 500,000 barrels per day in 2023. (Reuters)
COAL ASH: The U.S. EPA considers settling a lawsuit to regulate coal ash landfills that ceased operating before 2015, when it adopted a rule mandating how coal ash is monitored and stored. (Knoxville News Sentinel)
CLIMATE: Texas’ teacher retirement system divests a portion of its massive pension fund from 10 investment firms the state has named because of their pursuit of climate goals. (Texas Tribune)
WIND: A Louisiana port board comes to an agreement with a Florida company to prepare it to become a hub for the Gulf of Mexico’s expected offshore wind industry. (Riviera Maritime)
STORAGE: Orlando, Florida’s utility signs a deal to work with a 100 MW plant that stores energy in salt and coolant. (Orlando Business Journal)
GRID:
• As Austin, Texas, continues to restore power after last week’s winter storm, its fumbled response attracts scrutiny that’s focused largely on the city manager but extends to its cold weather emergency shelters. (Texas Tribune)
• Residents of an Austin, Texas, senior living center express frustration as they watch power restored to other parts of the city while they’re still relying on a backup generator. (KXAN)
• Georgia lawmakers consider legislation to make attacking electrical substations and other critical infrastructure a felony. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• A Texas neighborhood fights a utility’s planned substation because of concern about property values. (KRIV)
POLLUTION: A Florida port considers upgrading its infrastructure to outfit each of its ship berths with 16 MW of power, allowing them to turn off auxiliary engines and reduce emissions. (Maritime Executive)
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UTILITIES:
• Dominion Energy reports that revenue rose but its profit dropped substantially from 2021 to 2022, largely because it wrote down the value of some of its solar facilities. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
• Alabama regulators refund $62 million to customers after finding Alabama Power exceeded its allowed rate of return. (Associated Press)
COMMENTARY: The director of a conservative Texas energy group lauds San Antonio’s utility for moving to close its last coal plant, but warns against relying too much on natural gas given recent price spikes. (San Antonio Express-News)
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