Court allows North Carolina to exit Clean Power Plan challenge

CLEAN POWER PLAN: A federal court grants North Carolina’s request to withdraw from a legal challenge to the Clean Power Plan; meanwhile, President Trump is expected to order the Justice Department to stop defending the plan, likely leaving the case in legal limbo. (WFAE, E&E News)

SOLAR:
• Georgia is the top state for solar power developed by rural co-ops, according to a new report. (Solar Industry Magazine)
• Alabama’s largest solar farm is complete and will provide enough electricity to power 15,000 homes. (Yale Climate Connections)
• A new report says the U.S. solar market is poised to triple in size over the next five years. (Greentech Media)

NUCLEAR:
• Florida Power & Light’s project to fix pollution issues issues at the Turkey Point Nuclear station is approved by the state. (Miami New Times)
• A public hearing will be held on March 23 on Dominion Virginia Power’s controversial application for a license to build a new nuclear reactor. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

OIL AND GAS:
• While Florida’s House majority leader doesn’t support a ban on fracking, he says a bill moving through the legislature could initiate a compromise on drilling oversight. (WFSU)
• West Virginia’s oil and gas drillers are asking the state for help on regulations as the state is ​“sitting on so much oil and gas that is just waiting to be developed.” (The Intelligencer/​Wheeling News-Register)
• West Virginia lawmakers are considering a bill that exempts the oil and natural gas industry from the state’s chemical tank safety law. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)

EFFICIENCY:
• While a similar project at Duke University is on hold, Duke Energy is moving forward with a $50 million combined heat and power plant at Clemson University. (Charlotte Business Journal)
• Duke Energy says higher costs for efficiency programs is one factor driving a proposed North Carolina rate increase. (Charlotte Business Journal)

COMMENTARY:
• The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy says Georgia lawmakers should not ​“punish innovation” through fees on electric vehicles.
• Former deans of Duke University say a building a new natural gas plant on campus would ​“send a dangerous signal to those that look to Duke as a model.” (Raleigh News & Observer)
• Allowing Florida Power & Light to charge customers for speculative fracking is ​“a corporate handout” to the company. (Tampa Bay Times)