Report: Appalachia’s fracking boom actually hurt its economy

This roundup of energy news headlines comes from our Southeast Energy News newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning.

FOSSIL FUELS

• A new report on ​“Frackalachia” — the 30 top oil- and gas-producing counties in West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania — finds the shale-gas boom has hurt the region’s economy, with a net loss in jobs and lagging per-capita income since 2008. (Canary Media)

• After previously telling Virginia regulators there was an independent monitor in place to review bids for a planned gas plant, Dominion Energy now admits there never was such a monitor and that it alone reviewed the bids. (Inside Climate News)

• Chevron and Occidental Petroleum partner to drill the Gulf of Mexico’s deepest oil well to date. (Houston Chronicle, Offshore)

• More than 40 lawsuits push oil majors to pay to clean up decaying oil and gas infrastructure off Louisiana, leading to a potential Republican split over whether to side with trial lawyers or the oil industry. (E&E News)

• A Texas city council approves a resolution to stop the construction of a gas compressor site they worry could ​“incinerate” a nearby furniture store if it were to explode. (Houston Chronicle)

• A study finds Texas and Louisiana are among the states facing the highest annual costs from keeping fossil plants open due to a Trump administration mandate. (Canary Media, Utility Dive)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• EV maker Rivian finally announces a date in September to launch construction of its long-planned, $5 billion factory in Georgia. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

• A judge expresses hesitance about Georgia’s attempt to recoup legal fees from six landowners who unsuccessfully sued to block Rivian’s planned EV factory. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

SOLAR

• Virginia’s growing rural pushback against large solar projects threatens the state’s ability to keep up with rising energy demand. (WHRO)

• Kentucky regulators approve the initial phase of a $1 billion proposal by BrightNight to build a 210 MW solar farm at a former coal mine as the first stage of its plan for an eventual 800 MW solar park. (Renewables Now)

• Energix Renewables blames a ​“domino effect” of storms and heavy rain for erosion and stormwater control problems at a Virginia solar farm where it’s been ordered to pay nearly $121,000 in fines from state regulators. (Cardinal News)

COAL

• A federal rule to protect coal miners from silica dust that contributes to black lung disease will likely be postponed until at least October after industry groups sue to block its implementation. (West Virginia Watch)

• The U.S. EPA moves to delay a deadline for coal-fired plants to comply with zero-discharge wastewater standards. (Utility Dive)

OVERSIGHT

• The Trump administration scraps plans to expand Texas’ Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge to instead ​“unleash American energy.” (Texas Tribune)

UTILITIES

• Duke Energy asks state and federal regulators to approve its merger of two utilities in the Carolinas that have existed as dual entities since Duke acquired Progress Energy in 2012, potentially saving ratepayers $1 billion. (Charlotte Observer, NC Newsline)

GRID

• Amazon, Microsoft, and Google’s AI push is fueling soaring demand for power to run data centers concentrated in Virginia and other states, leading to a rush to build power plants and transmission lines and threatening to drive up power bills. (New York Times)

• Residents increasingly oppose a proposed 200-mile, 765kv transmission line across central Texas to the Permian Basin. (KCEN)

• Virginia residents rally to block construction of a 500kv transmission line proposed by Dominion Energy to help power ​“Data Center Alley.” (Virginia Mercury)

• Duke Energy says it’s increased incentives in some of its energy efficiency and demand response programs in South Carolina as energy use and peak demand spike. (Utility Dive)

NEW FROM CANARY 

• China is winning on renewables. Will it win on green steel, too? — Alexander C. Kaufman

• Heat pumps can help clean up factories — and save lives — Alison F. Takemura

• Chart: Trump’s war on wind energy will hit these states hardest — Dan McCarthy

• Massachusetts residents no longer have to subsidize new gas hookups — Sarah Shemkus