Federal government explores Gulf Coast offshore wind

WIND: The Interior Department will gauge interest in offshore wind power in the Gulf Coast, but high upfront infrastructure costs and tepid demand from regional utilities present challenges. (Reuters, NOLA.com)

ALSO: Opponents of a proposed western Virginia wind farm say it should be cancelled for missing a late May deadline for site plan approval, while the company argues state lawmakers extended the deadline. (Roanoke Times)

COAL:
• American Electric Power representatives say closing a coal-fired West Virginia power plant 12 years ahead of schedule could save ratepayers $300 million, but remain neutral on its fate despite pressure to keep the plant open. (Charleston Gazette-Mail, WV Metro News)
• A West Virginia coal company files notice to close an underground mine and prep plant on the West Virginia/​Pennsylvania border, permanently laying off 180 workers. (WV Metro News)
• Florida Power & Light sets a June 16 date to demolish its last coal-fired power plant. (Palm Beach Post)
• A workgroup of Virginia agencies and organizations considers what to do with revenue earned from phasing out coal industry tax credits. (Kingsport Times News)

GRID: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs new reforms he says ​“fix all of the flaws” that contributed to February’s deadly winter blackout, despite criticism from experts who say much more needs to be done. (Associated Press, KXAN)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: South Carolina lawmakers consider increasing fees for electric vehicles to make up for a gas tax revenue shortfall. (Post and Courier)

SOLAR:
• Silicon Ranch breaks ground on an 8 MW solar farm in eastern Tennessee. (Johnson City Press)
• A West Virginia redevelopment authority tilts toward solar in the heart of coal country with plans to bring a solar farm to the area and install a rooftop array for an aquaponics facility. (Williamson Daily News)
• Virginia officials celebrate the launch of 511 KW and 450 KW solar arrays at middle and elementary schools. (Augusta Free Press)

PIPELINES: A series of recently completed pipeline projects in Texas and Mexico build out natural gas transportation infrastructure to link the Permian Basin to the Gulf Coast. (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

NUCLEAR: Georgia regulators and independent state monitors report Georgia Power’s long-delayed nuclear expansion of Plant Vogtle is even further behind schedule than the utility acknowledges, and could cost $2 billion more than expected. (Associated Press; Wall Street Journal, subscription)

OIL & GAS: Tennessee lawmakers approve rule changes that shift the financial burden of cleaning up gas station spills from business owners to taxpayers for the next five years. (Tennessee Lookout)

UTILITIES: A Kentucky city delays a plan to sell its municipal electric utility to a private buyer after realizing a consultant’s report included a $20 million error. (Gleaner)

COMMENTARY:
• President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan would invest in clean energy, transportation electrification and pollution-reduction technology, as well as safeguard vulnerable flood-prone regions such as Virginia’s Hampton Roads, write a union official and conservationist. (Virginian Pilot)
• The lack of national coverage of striking coal miners in Alabama demonstrates the decline of influence of America’s labor unions, writes an author and journalist. (Esquire)