Louisiana pipeline leak causes concerns for carbon capture opponents

PIPELINES: The rupture of a Louisiana pipeline that released 107,000 gallons of carbon dioxide raises concerns about similar issues among opponents of a proposed carbon pipeline in South Dakota. (Verite News, SDPB)

ALSO:

• The Mountain Valley Pipeline’s testing of its pipes alarms Virginia residents after resulting in a water release that muddies local streams. (WDBJ)
• Environmental groups sue to stop a proposed 32-mile pipeline through Tennessee to a Tennessee Valley Authority power plant where the utility wants to build a natural gas unit to replace coal. (Tennessean)

STORAGE: An energy company that makes parts for lithium-ion batteries will invest $140 million to build a factory in North Carolina. (Charlotte Observer)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Rivian’s announcement it will expand production at its Illinois plant fuels concern about whether the electric vehicle company will build its paused $5 billion Georgia factory. (WAGA)

EFFICIENCY: New Orleans jumps 28 spots in a ranking of cities by clean energy due to its actions to reduce emissions and increase energy efficiency. (WWNO)

CARBON CAPTURE: Georgia Tech researchers partner with Facebook parent Meta to create a database to train an AI model to accelerate carbon capture technology. (news release)

GRID: A local utility in Chattanooga, Tennessee, spent $280 million to add ​“smart” updates to its grid, potentially providing a model as utilities look to upgrade grid infrastructure. (Business Insider)

NUCLEAR:

• Almost every ratepayer in Georgia will pay for Georgia Power’s recent completion of its Plant Vogtle expansion, which came in more than $20 billion over budget and is expected to be more expensive than other energy sources. (WABE)
• A new Virginia law allowing Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power to bill ratepayers for the cost of developing nuclear energy facilities could result in higher bills for customers. (WVTF)

UTILITIES:

• The Southern Company announces a 28% increase in profits days after its subsidiary completes the long-delayed expansion of a Georgia nuclear plant. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• Tennessee Valley Authority CEO Jeff Lyash says the utility is still determining how to comply with new U.S. EPA regulations, but is already planning to retire its coal plants and use a high-tech system to monitor coal ash. (Knoxville News Sentinel)
• The Tennessee Valley Authority awards more than $3 million energy efficiency grants to 106 schools throughout its Southeast service area, including for LED lighting and upgraded heating and cooling systems at a Tennessee school. (WJHL, Chattanooga Times Free Press)

CLIMATE: A school reunion leads to discussion of how a coastal Louisiana community is losing residents and physically changing amid rising seas, hurricanes and the skyrocketing cost of home insurance. (WWNO)

COMMENTARY:

• Virginia county boards play an important role in adjudicating proposed solar farms, so far approving 260 projects totaling 11,640 MW, writes an official from the Virginia Association of Counties. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
• Kentucky needs to upgrade its power grid to improve transmission and accommodate generation from solar and battery projects to boost economic development, writes a field director for a conservative energy group. (Courier Journal)
• Discussions about Dominion Energy and Santee Cooper’s plans to build a natural gas-fired power plant in South Carolina have so far ignored a pipeline that will likely deliver gas to the plant and its recent request for a large rate hike, writes a former energy regulator. (Post and Courier)