Louisiana regulators approve 475 MW Entergy solar plan

SOLAR: Louisiana regulators approve four utility-scale solar projects totaling 475 MW for Entergy, which will triple the utility’s renewable capacity. (Advocate)

ALSO:
• Amazon announces 100 MW and 200 MW solar farms in Louisiana as part of its effort to source all of its energy from renewables by 2025. (Advocate)
• Louisiana regulators approve the 72 MW ​“Rocking R” solar farm to sell power to the Southwestern Electric Power Company. (KPVI)
• A Virginia county approves a proposed 90 MW solar farm despite concerns from neighbors about stormwater runoff. (Culpeper Star-Exponent)
• San Antonio, Texas’ municipal utility secures a deal to purchase 180 MW power from a solar farm. (Renewables Now)

WIND:
• A southern Virginia city enters a purchase power agreement to buy 20 MW of wind energy. (Danville Register & Bee)
• Walmart, a conservative think tank and environmental groups file letters of support for Virginia regulators to hold Dominion Energy accountable to a performance guarantee at its offshore wind farm. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• An electric vehicle company sees delays in construction of a Florida factory that will push back its planned start of operations until the end of the year. (Jacksonville Daily Record)
• Florida Power & Light enlists Instagram influencers to tout its network of electric charging stations. (Broward Palm Beach New Times)
• Virginia plans to use $100 million from the federal government over five years to install electric vehicle chargers along interstates. (Virginia Mercury)

PIPELINES:
• U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia introduces a bill to accelerate approvals for natural gas pipelines and renewable power transmission, as well as require federal issuance of permits to complete the long-delayed Mountain Valley Pipeline. (New York Times, Virginia Mercury)
• Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear awards $30 million to support a 50-mile extension of a natural gas pipeline. (KFVS)

COAL: Appalachian Power renews its request to Virginia regulators to approve rate increases to support extending the life of two West Virginia coal-fired power plants, which state regulators previously rejected. (West Virginia Public Broadcasting)

ACTIVISM: Billionaire climate activist Michael Bloomberg announces an $85 million campaign to bolster local resistance against petrochemical-related plastics production in places like the Gulf Coast and Appalachia. (E&E News)

OIL & GAS:
• West Virginia residents sue to block a new West Virginia natural gas unitization law they say takes their private property without just compensation and due process. (Parkersburg News and Sentinel)
• A recently announced 1,800 MW natural gas-fired power plant with carbon capture will be West Virginia’s first combined-cycle energy facility. (Utility Dive)

CARBON CAPTURE: A Texas energy company sells its stake in a massive carbon capture project at a coal-fired power plant that’s been out of service since 2020. (Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis)

COMMENTARY:
• New Orleans is leading Louisiana’s effort to reduce transportation-related carbon emissions to fight combat change, writes its mayor. (NOLA.com)
• Virginia Republicans’ moves to decouple the state’s vehicle emissions law from California’s might delay but won’t stop the transition to electric vehicles, writes an editor. (Cardinal News)