Shifting federal rules, economics could affect Duke’s N.C. gas plans

OIL & GAS: New power plant emission rules and shifting economics around the cost of natural gas add more uncertainty around Duke Energy’s plans to build a 1,360 MW gas-fired power plant in North Carolina. (Energy News Network)

ALSO: A fossil fuel company applies for permits to build three natural gas-fired engines at a gas compression plant in Alabama. (Birmingham Business Journal)

GRID:

• Millions of Houstonians still don’t have power three days after Hurricane Beryl, frustrating residents and city leaders amid a sweltering heat wave. (Associated Press, CNN)
• The utility that serves much of Houston is restoring power at a faster rate than previous storms — but still not fast enough to keep residents from grumbling. (Texas Tribune)
• A Virginia county that’s become a global destination for data centers moves to enact new zoning restrictions on development of the facilities. (Loudoun Times-Mirror)

SOLAR:

• Savannah, Georgia’s city council is expected to approve a $5.75 million contract with an energy company to install 1.26 MW of solar facilities to power 14 municipal facilities and more than double the city’s solar capacity. (Savannah Morning News)
• A developer commissions a 175 MW solar farm in Mississippi and continues work on another 100 MW facility — significant additions in a state that ranks 37th for solar capacity. (PV Tech)

STORAGE:

• A new report finds virtual power plant programs like one launched in Texas in 2022 can shore up power grids against summer demand peaks faster and cheaper than building new generation. (Utility Dive)
• A Virginia authority approves plans for a battery storage facility on 85 acres in an industrial park. (Danville Register & Bee)

OVERSIGHT: Environmentalists sound the alarm about the impending shift of Texas cases involving pollution and oil and gas regulation from an appeals court stacked with elected Democratic judges to a newly created, Republican-heavy court that many expect will favor industry. (Public Health Watch)

WIND: The announcement of Dominion Energy’s purchase of Avangrid’s offshore wind lease and a new report that forecasts $65 billion in private offshore wind investment by 2030 injects new optimism into an industry that’s faced recent turbulence. (Utility Dive)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: The Biden administration awards $1.7 billion to Georgia, Virginia and six other states to boost electric vehicle manufacturing. (Associated Press)

NUCLEAR:

• Dominion Energy says it’s exploring the idea of building a small modular nuclear reactor at a central Virginia power plant. (Virginia Mercury)
• Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signs legislation to accelerate the development of small modular nuclear reactors. (WRIC)

CLIMATE:

• Climate experts discuss what Hurricane Beryl’s arrival as the earliest Category 5 hurricane ever could mean for the Southeast for the rest of hurricane season. (Wilmington StarNews)
• The Southeast sees rising tides accelerating at some of the most extreme rates in the world, alarming scientists, residents and housing officials. (Inside Climate News)
• Dallas officials prepare for a new round of urban heat island mapping to identify hot spots as part of the city’s climate plan. (Dallas Morning News)