Portable solar helped N.C. weather Helene’s blackouts

SOLAR: Portable solar systems became a lifeline for North Carolina residents during lengthy blackouts caused by Hurricane Helene, especially because solar systems at schools and other community centers lacked battery storage capacity. (WFAE)

ALSO:

• Solar advocates push for legislative changes in Virginia to lower the allowable minimum monthly bill for shared-solar customers, which would let more people benefit from solar without installing their own panels. (Cardinal News)
• A report finds the Southeast is seeing a 33-fold increase in solar energy generation across seven states, underscoring national growth in renewables that has tripled since 2014. (Floodlight)
• A renewables company begins operations at a 50 MW solar farm in Louisiana. (Louisiana Illuminator)
• A Florida science museum’s new solar exhibit includes a solar-panel tree that powers the building’s operations. (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Officials at a Tennessee laboratory announce a collaboration with Volkswagen to develop wireless technology to charge electric vehicles. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

STORAGE:

• Virginia regulators approve Appalachian Power’s proposal for a 7.5 MW battery storage system to serve customers in difficult-to-reach, mountainous terrain. (Cardinal News)
• Form Energy launches an expansion of its long duration battery factory in West Virginia, which could diversify the energy storage supply chain and further push fossil fuels out of energy generation. (Utility Dive, CleanTechnica)
• Ford signs a deal with a battery company to secure the supply chain for its electric vehicles, while also increasing battery production at a Kentucky factory in a partnership with another company. (Utility Dive)

CLEAN ENERGY: West Virginia U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin announces nearly $430 million in federal funding to accelerate clean energy manufacturing in coal communities, including $9.8 million for a battery material producer in West Virginia. (news release)

OIL & GAS: Kinder Morgan seals a leaking gas well that exploded 19 days ago and spewed water and emissions of toxic hydrogen sulfide, and plans to ​“permanently plug” and remediate the site. (Texas Tribune)

NUCLEAR: Mississippi regulators hold a conference to discuss the expansion of nuclear power in the state. (WLBT)

BIOFUELS: A company breaks ground on a renewable gas facility in Georgia that’s expected to divert nearly 250,000 tons of waste from local landfills each year. (news release)

GRID: Georgia Power receives $160 million in federal funding to harden its grid infrastructure and​allow for smoother integration of renewables. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

UTILITIES: Dominion Energy’s long-term plan anticipates customers’ bills will rise 50% by 2039 as it modernizes its grid and invests in new generation to meet escalating demand. (USA Today)

POLITICS: Louisiana U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy touts a bill to create a pollution tax on imported goods that are dirtier than their domestic versions, which he says has the support of Donald Trump. (E&E News, subscription)

COMMENTARY: A Texas farmer discusses why it makes more sense to use sheep to maintain vegetation around solar systems than it does to mow the area. (Texas Monthly)