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WIND: Virginia regulators approve a settlement between Dominion Energy, environmental groups and others to provide ratepayer protections as the utility builds its $9 billion offshore wind farm. (Virginia Mercury)
PIPELINES:
• The U.S. Senate rejects U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin’s attempt to add energy permitting reform legislation, including forced completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, to a must-pass defense budget bill. (The Hill)
• An energy company announces it’s received federal approval to begin service at a 135-mile natural gas pipeline in Louisiana. (news release)
SOLAR:
• Federal officials announce a $154,040 grant for a rural North Carolina county to buy and install a 332 kW solar array. (WECT)
• A Virginia town council adjusts its tax code to permit revenue sharing with solar facilities. (Gazette-Virginian)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• An electric vehicle charging station manufacturer opens its East Coast headquarters in South Carolina, building more momentum for the state’s growing EV industry. (WYFF)
• Toyota partners with a Texas electric transmission and distribution group to research the potential for electric vehicles to transfer energy to the power grid. (The Driven)
GRID:
• Shootings at two North Carolina electrical substations prompt federal officials to order a nationwide review of security standards around the electricity transmission network. (WFAE)
• Florida officials reveal more details about the six or more break-ins at Duke Energy substations, which included two burglaries. (Tampa Bay Times)
• Texas regulators and a national grid nonprofit issue reports that offer dueling perspectives on whether grid reforms have adequately prepared Texas for extreme winter weather. (KVUE)
• Two grid reliability groups call for Texas to raise its operating standards for solar power transmission after a June incident that caused a cascade of power loss across West Texas. (KVUE)
UTILITIES:
• Louisville, Kentucky’s utility files a plan with Kentucky regulators to retire four coal-fired generating units by 2028, build two natural gas units totaling 1,242 MW, and add about 1,000 MW in solar. (Louisville Courier Journal)
• A citizen advisory committee votes to recommend an energy mix for San Antonio’s municipal utility to replace its coal plants with natural gas, diesel, solar, battery storage, and wind. (San Antonio Report)
OIL & GAS:
• Louisiana’s liquified natural gas industry prepares for growth, with three export terminals already in operation and 10 more set to open by 2030. (The Advocate)
• A company announces it will build an underground natural gas storage facility in Texas. (KBMT)
COAL: New federal data reveals West Virginia relies on coal for 91% of its electricity, 16 percentage points more than the next-highest state. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)
FINANCE: Texas lawmakers say investment companies shifting to climate-friendly portfolios that recommend state employees and retirees divest from fossil fuel companies are breaking a state law and threatening national security. (Texas Tribune)
CLIMATE: Federal officials announce $285 million for Arkansas to combat climate change and expand access to clean energy in rural areas. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
COMMENTARY: An editorial board favorably compares bipartisan support for construction of a 50 MW solar farm on a defunct Virginia coal mine to partisan discord over the Republican governor’s energy plan and a 2020 clean energy law passed by a Democratic legislature. (Roanoke Times)
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