Kentucky utility plans big investments in solar, gas

UTILITIES: Kentucky’s largest utility plans as much as 1,000 MW of new solar by 2035 along with four new natural gas plants as it anticipates a surge in demand from data centers. (Kentucky Lantern)

ALSO: Florida Power & Light says it will seek nearly $1.2 billion from ratepayers to cover costs from hurricane damage this year. (CBS News)

OVERSIGHT:

• Critics note that Mississippi regulators’ ​“Nuclear Summit” this week featured multiple speakers from the nuclear industry, a contrast to a recent event on solar power that had no industry representatives and mostly spotlighted critics. (Mississippi Today)
• Louisiana voters will decide on a replacement for a departing Republican Public Utility Commission member who has been a strong proponent of energy efficiency. (Canary Media)

OFFSHORE WIND: Dominion Energy completes its acquisition of an offshore wind lease area off North Carolina, which could add as much as 3 GW of new capacity. (Recharge)

GRID:

• The CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas says technology companies need to pay more for grid upgrades needed to support data center expansions. (Bloomberg, subscription)
• New Orleans’ city council approves a $32 million plan to develop a ​“virtual power plant” of distributed batteries throughout the city, along with $100 million in updates to power poles and distribution lines. (NOLA.com)
• Oklahoma lawmakers will conduct a study of a proposed pumped hydro storage project that has drawn criticism from landowners over possible use of eminent domain, and is also opposed by the Choctaw Nation. (Hydro Review)
• A company that manufactures electrical transformers will spend $15.3 million over the next five years to expand its plant in Waynesboro, Georgia. (Atlanta Business Chronicle, subscription)

SOLAR:

• Kentucky regulators will hold a public hearing next week on a co-op’s plans for two solar arrays totalling 134 MW. (Kentucky Today)
• Google announces a power purchase agreement for a portion of a 350 MW Texas solar farm expected to go online later this year. (Renewables Now)
• Rivian and Patagonia partner with a solar developer to support local technology education programs as part of their power purchase agreement with a North Carolina solar project. (news release)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: VW-owned Scout Motors unveils a new retro-designed SUV and pickup to be produced at its South Carolina plant. (Car and Driver)

OIL & GAS: Despite legal challenges, Oklahoma legislators stand by a state law creating a blacklist of financial institutions with climate goals with the aim to ​“stop Oklahoma pension dollars from being hijacked to further non-financial social causes.” (Oklahoma Watch)