Hydrogen hubs on Trump’s chopping block

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HYDROGEN

• A leaked list suggests the Trump administration is considering cuts to all seven of the federally proposed hydrogen hubs, including those in Texas, Appalachia, and the mid-Atlantic. (Canary Media)

CLEAN ENERGY

• The Trump administration revokes a $4.9 million grant awarded to Silfab Solar by the Biden administration for a South Carolina solar panel factory, while Cirba Solutions reportedly loses a $200 million grant for a lithium-ion battery processing facility in the state; Cirba officials said it has not received formal notice by the Department of Energy about the cancellation. (Post and Courier)

• A new George Mason University report looks at growing power demand and Virginia’s decarbonization goals, suggesting the state may need to rely on natural gas despite its relative expense compared to renewables. (Virginia Mercury)

• Dominion Energy’s North Carolina and Virginia subsidiaries release a request for proposals seeking power purchase agreements for new solar, onshore wind, and battery storage projects. (Utility Dive)

PIPELINES

• South Carolina residents push back on Kinder Morgan’s plan for a 71-mile gas pipeline that would stretch from Georgia to Santee Cooper and Dominion Energy’s planned gas-fired power plant. (Post and Courier)

SOLAR

• Toyota opens a 30-acre solar farm that will provide 4% of the power for its Kentucky factory. (WLEX)

• The Environmental Defense Fund releases a study questioning how Florida’s reliance on natural gas will affect energy costs, given that solar is 20% to 28% less expensive than the fossil fuel. (Florida Politics)

• A Virginia county’s staff members review buffer and road complaints from residents about Apex Clean Energy’s Riverstone Solar farm, but find no violations. (Farmville Herald)

GRID

• PJM Interconnection seeks public comment on a rulemaking shortcut that would fast-track a handful of large projects for grid connection, but experts warn the change would benefit gas-fired plants and lock in fossil fuels for at least another generation. (Inside Climate News)

• West Virginia residents gather to express frustration at a new state law that limits localities’ ability to restrict data centers and redirects revenue to state priorities as a new power plant and data center inch forward in their county. (WBOY)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• The superintendent of an Arkansas school district touts $10,000 in annual fuel cost savings after the purchase of six electric school buses. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

FOSSIL FUELS

• A new study from Johns Hopkins University finds people living near petrochemical plants in Louisiana face cancer risks that are up to 11 times higher than the U.S. EPA’s projections. (WWNO)

• Bechtel Energy chooses Chart Industries to supply cooling equipment for a liquified natural gas export terminal in Texas. (Offshore Energy)

OVERSIGHT

• Georgia Republicans think the timing of an off-year election for two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission could boost Democrats, given that most other state elections that day are for local municipal races. (Georgia Recorder)

• The two Republican incumbents in the race for Georgia Public Service Commission have outraised their Democratic opponents, largely through contributions from executives of companies that have benefitted from controversial decisions. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

CLIMATE

• Birmingham, Alabama, releases a draft version of the state’s first-ever regional climate plan, which aims to reduce emissions from the transportation, energy, waste, and industrial sectors. (news release)

• The director of an environmental studies program says climate change is increasing the chance of severe flooding in central Appalachia, making historical data outdated as the region gets wetter. (WOUB)

NEW FROM CANARY

• How Trump gutted the team meant to build America’s energy future — Maria Gallucci

• Massachusetts offshore wind port uncertain after federal funding cuts — Sarah Shemkus

• No ship? New York offshore wind project faces yet another hurdle — Clare Fieseler

• This mysterious DOE​‘hit list’ has the clean-energy world on edge — Kathryn Krawczyk