States say federal laws are slowing cleanup of oil & gas wells

ALSO:

• The Biden administration appeals a judge’s injunction against its pause on permitting new liquified natural gas export facilities. (Utility Dive)
• U.S. oil producers set a new record for crude production last week, undercutting Donald Trump’s criticism of the Biden administration for trying to ​“get rid of oil.” (Politico)
• A rubber company announces it will invest $50 million to build a natural gas-fired boiler to replace coal power in Kentucky. (WDRB)

SOLAR:

• The U.S. Energy Department commits to loan up to $1.45 billion to solar manufacturer Qcells to build out its Georgia factory. (PV Magazine)
• A Georgia community awaits a new solar proposal after a planning board delayed its vote over problems with the developer’s application. (WMAZ)
• A Kentucky solar installer discusses the state’s slow shift to solar, battery and nuclear power. (WEKU)

UTILITIES:

• Lawyers scrutinizing CenterPoint Energy’s purchase of large generators that went unused during outages after Hurricane Beryl question whether the purchase came about due to a personal relationship between the utility’s then-CEO and an official at the generator company. (Texas Monthly)
• Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he’ll make an example of CenterPoint Energy by forcing it to reform its storm response procedures after its lackluster response to Hurricane Beryl. (KTBC)

STORAGE:

• Virginia is receiving millions in federal infrastructure funding to finance battery storage at a data center. (Virginia Public Radio)
• A developer sees solar installations fall but storage business spike after it shifts to a ​“storage-first” strategy and announces a partnership with Tesla to shore up the Texas state grid. (Utility Dive)

COMMENTARY:

• The rapid growth of data centers for artificial intelligence are consuming a disproportionate amount of power and raising power rates for local residents with few discernable benefits, write a policy analyst and North Carolina conservationist. (Energy News Network)
• Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s moves to withdraw the state from a regional carbon market and to decouple its vehicle emissions standards from California blatantly ignore state legislation that had been passed and signed into law, writes a state lawmaker. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)