A geothermal makeover for oil and gas wells

This roundup of energy news headlines comes from our Southeast Energy News newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning.

GEOTHERMAL

• Oklahoma lawmakers consider legislation to create a process for companies to buy abandoned oil and gas wells and retool them for geothermal or underground energy storage, as Alabama and other states move forward with measures to regulate such conversions. (Canary Media)

COAL

• An analysis of federal data finds one in five U.S. coal mines last year exceeded caps on silica dust already in place for every other regulated sector, even as federal officials dragged their feet implementing a Biden-era rule to protect miners. (Lexington Herald-Leader, report)

• A Virginia couple campaigns for more stringent regulations around silica dust and black lung after the husband — a former coal miner — contracted the disease in 2014, leaving him with about 60% of normal lung capacity. (Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism)

SOLAR

• Experts and clean energy advocates question the legality of an order a North Carolina regulator gave to Duke Energy to stop acquiring new solar power until the utility’s new carbon plan is approved. (Carolina Public Press)

• San Antonio, Texas’ municipal utility partners with Israel’s Ashtrom Renewable to break ground on a 150-MW solar farm to fulfill a contract aimed at growing renewables. (Texas Public Radio)

• Silicon Ranch officials discuss a proposed 8.4-MW solar farm in Alabama. (Alabama News Wire)

GRID

• PJM Interconnection projects it has adequate resources to maintain grid reliability despite the National Weather Service’s forecast for ​“hotter-than-normal conditions” in its territory this summer. (Utility Dive)

• Dominion Energy asks Virginia regulators to approve a plan to spend $1.1 billion to reduce power outages and to update its grid to accommodate more solar generators and higher demand. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

• Constellation Energy adds 5 GW of nuclear uprates, gas-fired power, and battery storage to the queue for PJM, although it’s waiting to see the outcome of potential market reforms before deciding which projects to advance. (Utility Dive)

• Vistra adds 4.5 GW of capacity from new gas and renewables, gas and nuclear uprates, and coal-to-gas conversions as it eyes load growth in the PJM and standalone Texas grids. (Utility Dive)

• Florida-based Star Catcher raises $65 million for technology to collect and distribute solar power to satellites and other spacecraft. (The Engineer)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• Georgia trains workers for Hyundai’s massive electric vehicle and battery plant, including helping them acclimate to working with the facility’s doglike robots. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

UTILITIES

• The Tennessee Valley Authority considers how to add new fiber-optic cables to its power system while cutting back the original planned $300 million expansion for budgetary reasons. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

• Old Dominion Power asks Virginia regulators to approve a rate hike that would increase residential bills by an average of 23%. (Cardinal News)

• Columbia Gas asks Virginia regulators for an 11% rate hike, to be followed by another 3.16% increase next year. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

DATA CENTERS

• A University of Texas study finds the state’s growing data center industry could account for up to 9% of statewide water use by 2040, further straining an already limited resource. (Houston Chronicle, KUT)

• After debate over two massive proposed data center projects, an Arkansas county board votes 11-3 to send five data center-related items back to its planning board for more review and public hearings. (KARK)

• A rural Texas county board votes to pause construction of new data centers in unincorporated areas for a year, which appears to make it the first county in the state to approve a moratorium on the industry. (Texas Tribune)

OVERSIGHT

• Ten candidates are running for two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission ahead of next week’s primary elections. (WABE)

• ExxonMobil, Tesla, and other companies are moving their headquarters to Texas to take advantage of legal and tax regulations, but an expert says those reincorporations are unlikely to bring many new jobs or new investment. (Texas Tribune)