Georgia utilities struggle to keep up with corporate demand for solar

SOLAR: Georgia Power struggles to keep up with large companies’ demand for solar energy, leading companies like social media giant Meta and electric vehicle maker Rivan to source power from a cooperative. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

ALSO:
• A company withdraws plans to build a 60 MW solar farm in Kentucky after its application to connect to the regional grid is delayed 18 times. (Paducah Sun)
• Danish developer Ørsted prepares to break ground on a 471 MW solar farm in Texas. (PV Magazine)
• Two West Virginia utilities sign a deal to supply a town with renewable energy, advancing their plans to build five solar farms totaling 50 MW. (news release)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Virginia Senate Democrats defeat a Republican attempt to repeal the state’s adoption of California’s Clean Car standards, which set strict vehicle emissions limits and mandate that all new vehicles sold be zero-emission beginning in 2035. (Virginia Mercury)
• Virginia Democrats blast Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s decision to withdraw the state from consideration for a Ford electric vehicle battery plant because of the involvement of a Chinese company. (Virginia Business)

GRID:
• A North Carolina electrical substation is damaged by gunfire after similar incidents last month, but no power outages result this time. (Associated Press)
• Puerto Rican officials move to privatize power generation, prompting questions and criticism that the change will do little to improve reliability while further delaying transition to renewables. (NBC News)
• North Texas residents fight a company’s plan to build a 20-mile transmission line because it would displace a dozen people, affect the tree canopy and impact commercial development. (KDFW)
• In his third inaugural address, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott touts reforms to the state power grid but says there’s more work yet to do. (San Antonio Report)

WIND: Wind farms have become an iconic part of Texas’ landscape, with more than 17,000 turbines producing more wind power than all but three countries in the world. (Texas Monthly)

OIL & GAS:
• U.S. officials forecast oil output in the Permian Basin will grow to record levels in February, fueling record production across the U.S. (Reuters)
• Texas oil and gas industry officials predict a leveling off of production in the Permian Basin this year but otherwise expect high growth through 2040. (KWES)

NUCLEAR: Federal officials find equipment at an Entergy nuclear power plant in Louisiana was improperly calibrated, potentially low-balling the public health threat of radioactive gases had there been an accident last year. (The Advocate)

BUILDINGS: A developer breaks ground on a building with multi-family housing and retail that will be the first net zero energy facility in Huntsville, Alabama. (AL.com)

COAL: West Virginia lawmakers advance bills to adjust coal property tax valuation and to reboot a state economic development office to better support the coal industry. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)

OVERSIGHT:
• Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders appoints a former chair of the state Republican Party to lead the powerful state board that regulates power and gas utilities. (Arkansas Times)
• West Virginia’s environmental regulation agency reveals during a budget presentation that more than 15% of its positions are unfilled. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)

CLIMATE: Officials find climate change increases the risk of sickness and death for people with diabetes, disproportionately affecting Florida because of its high rate of people with diabetes. (Miami Herald)