Duke’s grid fight

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.

GRID

• North Carolina’s electric member co-ops are challenging Duke Energy’s plan to proactively upgrade poles and wires to accommodate prospective solar farms in an argument that could have wider implications for the solar and industry and the grid. (Canary Media)

• The Tennessee Valley Authority signs a 20-year agreement with Tenaska for use of a 225 MW battery storage planned for eastern Tennessee. (PV Magazine)

• TVA signs another 20-year agreement to utilize a 200 MW battery storage project that Plus Power is building in Alabama. (Huntsville Business Journal)

• Kentucky Power says it’s received state approval to rebuild and expand capacity on 14 miles of the Prestonsburg-Thelma transmission line. (Paintsville Herald)

INDUSTRY

• Air Liquide announces a $350 million investment in Louisiana to build an air separation unit to produce gases needed for Hyundai-POSCO Louisiana Steel’s low-carbon steel operation. (Greater Baton Rouge Business Report)

UTILITIES

• Houston-area utility CenterPoint Energy expects its load to grow by 50% through 2029, largely thanks to an anticipated 8 GW of new data center demand. (Utility Dive)

SOLAR

• Kia’s West Point, Georgia, auto manufacturing plant completes construction of a 10 MW solar canopy that’s also designed to protect vehicles from hail. (news release)

• The University of Arkansas brings online a solar array at its Fayetteville research center, the first of more than 20 planned facilities across the state. (Arkansas Democrat Gazette)

• Louisiana regulators approve a 200 MW solar farm on 1,600 acres of former sugarcane fields. (The Advocate)

• Waste services manager Enviri says it received state approval to recycle solar panels at its Lancaster, Texas, e-waste facility. (Renewables Now)

POLICY

• Negotiations continue between Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) and state legislators over two bills meant to help curb rising utility bills. (Virginia Mercury)

FOSSIL FUELS

• Developers break ground on a 600 MW combined cycle natural gas power plant in Harrison County, West Virginia. (West Virginia Public Broadcasting)

• Environmental groups sue the Army Corps of Engineers over a water permit it issued for the Southeast Supply Enhancement project. (E&E News)

• Kinder Morgan will buy the Monument Pipeline system serving the Houston area for $505 million. (Houston Business Journal)

NEW FROM CANARY

• Which countries lead the way on nuclear energy? — Dan McCarthy

• San Francisco helps home child care centers wean off gas — Alison F. Takemura

• An Ohio court may OK fracking-waste wells despite pollution concerns — Kathiann M. Kowalski

• Maryland bill trades cost-saving energy efficiency for short-term relief — Aman Azar