Court rejects utility’s bid to dismiss Virginia coal ash lawsuit

COAL ASH: A federal court rejects Dominion Virginia Power’s bid to dismiss a closely-watched lawsuit and upholds the Sierra Club’s right to sue to enforce the Clean Water Act. (Southern Environmental Law Center)

CLEAN POWER PLAN: Some states attacking the Plan may also be preparing to comply with their targeted emissions reductions. (ClimateWire)

SOLAR: A study for the TVA finds the long-term, average cost of small solar systems is 7.2 cents per kilowatt hour. (Electric Co-op Today)

CLIMATE: A new study for climate activist Tom Steyer finds 1 million jobs could be created nationally by cutting carbon emissions. (The Business Journals)

RENEWABLES: A primer on Renewable Energy Certificates, or ​“RECs,” in states with renewable electricity requirements. (Vox)

UTILITIES: While Dominion Virginia Power is reportedly spending about $500 million researching a possible fifth nuclear reactor, it is spending about $5 million-$10 million on offshore wind. (Virginia Public Radio)

PIPELINES: Dominion Resources is set to remain the largest owner of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline after Duke Energy completes its acquisition of Piedmont Natural Gas. (Charlotte Business Journal)

COAL: Virginia-based Alpha Natural Resources asks to end non-pension welfare benefits to ease its path out of bankruptcy court. (Pittsburgh Business Times)

UTILITIES: The CEO of AGL Resources, who coordinated the company’s pending $12 billion merger with Southern Co. will retire at the end of 2105. (Atlanta Business Chronicle)

COMMENTARY:
• The collapse of the U.S. coal industry is a more tangible victory for the climate than Obama’s rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline. (Politico)
• A critic assesses the array of U.S. government incentives to develop new nuclear reactors. (Southern Alliance for Clean Energy)