New proposals reinvigorate Gulf Coast interest in offshore wind

WIND: Louisiana officials are surprised by two companies’ proposals to build wind farms in the Gulf of Mexico shortly after the Biden administration canceled an offshore wind auction for lack of interest. (Louisiana Illuminator)

ALSO: West Virginia regulators approve changes to a company’s planned wind farm that will result in fewer but taller turbines. (WTRF)

OIL & GAS:

• A new report suggests Louisiana is unlikely to see a significant economic boost from the oil and gas industry, even if President-elect Donald Trump approves the construction of liquified natural gas export terminals along the Gulf Coast. (Floodlight)
• East Kentucky Power Cooperative announces plans to build two gas-fired power plants and convert two existing coal-fired power plants to ​“co-fire” gas, while Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities break ground on a 640 MW gas-fired power plant. (Kentucky Lantern, Power Engineering)
• Alabama Power files plans to purchase a 900 MW gas-fired power plant, with a rate increase to cover the cost. (Alabama Reflector)
• North Carolina residents express opposition to Duke Energy’s plan to replace four coal-fired units at a power plant with new gas-fired units, while local officials herald the project. (Roxboro Courier-Times)

NUCLEAR: Appalachian Power announces plans to build a 300 MW modular nuclear reactor in Virginia. (Virginia Business)

GEOTHERMAL: Austin, Texas’ municipal utility announces plans to build a 5 MW geothermal facility. (KXAN)

STORAGE: Virginia leaders say they attracted a company’s $1.3 billion battery factory because of local officials’ responsiveness, plus a $1,000 per-job enterprise zone tax payment for a project expected to create 2,105 new jobs. (Danville Register & Bee)

CARBON CAPTURE:

• Occidental Petroleum nears completion of a $1.3 billion direct air capture facility in the Permian Basin, which the oil and gas industry hopes will become a model for decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. (Texas Monthly)
• Virginia Tech researchers receive $9 million in federal funding plus $2.6 million from a company to research the potential for building a carbon capture facility beneath a cement plant. (Cardinal News)

MINING: Federal officials float a plan to expand Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, potentially blocking a company’s plans to build a titanium mine in the same area. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, subscription)

UTILITIES:

• The Tennessee Valley Authority has stalled and even reversed its progress toward emission-free power from a 2020 peak of 57% clean energy as it pursues plans to build nine new gas-fired power plants. (WPLN)
• The Florida Supreme Court rejects a challenge to state regulators’ approval of ​“storm-protection plans” for Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy Florida, Tampa Electric Co. and Florida Public Utilities Co. (WUSF)
• Documents reveal the pay for the Tennessee Valley Authority’s CEO has remained level at $10.5 million in 2024 so far, while other executives received pay increases. (Chattanooga Times Free Press, Knoxville News Sentinel)

POLITICS:

• Experts predict Donald Trump’s election as president will boost Texas’ fossil fuel companies, but will likely slow down regulations to address abandoned ​“zombie wells” that need to be plugged. (Houston Chronicle)
• A shrinking number of Republicans support solar and wind energy development, even though GOP-controlled​Texas, Florida and Oklahoma are among the nation’s leaders in power generation from renewables. (Canary Media)

COMMENTARY: Kentucky should incentivize economic growth and address unreclaimed ​“zombie mines” that produce no coal by developing them to produce geothermal energy, writes a college student. (Lexington Herald-Leader)