How Louisiana turned the U.S. into world’s largest oil & gas producer

OIL & GAS: Louisiana is ground zero for a surge in oil and gas production that’s turned the U.S. into the world’s top producer, and a new wave of proposed export terminals fuels concern the Gulf Coast is becoming a ​“sacrifice zone for the oil and gas industry.” (The Guardian)

ALSO:

• Georgia regulators consider Georgia Power’s request to build three new gas-powered ​“peaker” units totaling 1,300 MW, even as the utility keeps the cost that will be passed onto ratepayers under wraps as a ​“trade secret.” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• Odessa, Texas, allows residents to return after a large oilfield fire destroyed several buildings and an RV. (KMID)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• Austin’s metro service stops its transition to an all-electric bus fleet over concerns about electric buses’ range. (KUT)
• A company announces the installation of a solar-powered, off-grid electric vehicle charger in South Carolina. (news release)

WIND: Virginia regulators approve an 80% increase in a surcharge on Dominion Energy bills that will go to pay for the utility’s ongoing construction of a $9 billion offshore wind farm. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

STORAGE: A Texas county board responds with skepticism to an energy company’s request for a tax abatement on a 120 MW battery storage facility. (Renewable Energy World)

SOLAR: Florida Power & Light uses a herd of about 100 sheep to maintain vegetation at a Florida solar farm. (WEAR)

UTILITIES: Florida-based NextEra Energy signed deals to develop 3 GW of renewables in the second quarter, and its CEO feels confident the economic benefits will entice Republicans to preserve clean energy tax credits even if they win in November. (Utility Dive, T&D World)

GRID:

• CenterPoint Energy’s CEO apologizes to Houston residents and promises better communication and grid improvements as Texas regulators grill the utility over its lackluster response to Hurricane Beryl. (Texas Tribune, Houston Chronicle)
• Virginia residents gather to learn and express concerns about the state’s rapidly growing data center sector and its effect on power demand. (Fredericksburg Free Press)
• Elon Musk’s plan to build a ​“gigafactory of compute” at a Memphis, Tennessee, industrial site is frustrating residents, environmentalists and elected officials over its rapid pace of development and lack of opportunities for public feedback. (Bloomberg)

COAL: A Virginia-based bank notes it missed out on more than $48 million in interest since 2023 in its long-running dispute over repayment of $300 million in overdue loans owed by West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s family companies. (Cardinal News)

POLITICS:

• Four top contenders to become Democrats’ vice presidential nominee have mixed records on climate, like Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who has acknowledged climate change but wouldn’t blame it for devastating 2022 floods. (New York Times)
• Virginia joins a 25-state effort calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to block the U.S. EPA’s implementation of a proposed rule restricting emissions from existing coal and new gas plants. (Virginia Mercury)