North Carolina Republicans seek to shut down nearly completed wind farm

NOTE TO READERS: Southeast Energy News will not be publishing on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We will return on Tuesday, January 17.

WIND:
• North Carolina Republicans seek to shut down a nearly completed wind farm, claiming it will interfere with a nearby Navy radar site in Virginia and alleging ​“political correctness” prevented the Pentagon from opposing the project. (Associated Press)
• A Republican lawmaker who represents the district where the project is located says he’s seen no evidence the project poses an issue: ​“I think there are some who are trying to set up the military as a straw man.” (Coastal Review Online)

FRACKING: A bill in the Virginia legislature would exempt some fracking chemicals from public records requests. (Associated Press)

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COAL:
• A federal judge orders the U.S. EPA to quickly calculate the number of coal-related jobs lost as a result of pollution regulations. (Associated Press)
• Like President-elect Trump, West Virginia’s new governor, coal executive Jim Justice, is refusing to divest of his business interests, raising ethical red flags. (Associated Press)
• Environmental groups sue Georgia regulators for failing to review out-of-date permits for five coal plants. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

COAL ASH: A Georgia city considers a resolution calling for tougher oversight of coal ash storage. (Golden Isles News)

POLLUTION: Toxic air emissions in North Carolina have fallen 79 percent over the past decade, in large part due to the closure of 7 coal plants. (Charlotte Observer)

SOLAR:
• A North Carolina school district takes a step toward a major solar project, part of a larger trend for schools in the state. (Southeast Energy News)
• Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe announces a new 20 MW solar project. (Associated Press)
• Work begins on a 120 MW solar project at a Florida Air Force base. (news release)
• A meeting in a North Carolina county will help landowners better understand the impacts of solar development. (The Pilot)

NUCLEAR: The buyers of an unfinished Alabama nuclear plant say developing the site will generate $1 billion in economic benefit. (AL.com)

COMMENTARY:
• President-elect Trump’s choice to lead the EPA would pose a threat to Tennessee’s growing clean energy economy. (The Tennessean)
• Why Athens, Georgia should move forward on solar: ​“Every day that passes without moving in the direction of positive change only speeds up climate troubles.” (The Red and Black)