Texas’ grid weathers the cold, but energy debate continues

GRID: Texas’ power grid broke records for winter demand but withstood last week’s polar vortex, while a largely partisan debate continues over whether added renewables or natural gas facilities deserve more credit for avoiding outages. (Utility Dive, Inside Climate News)

POLITICS:

• Virginia Democrats introduce budget amendments to restore the state’s membership in a regional carbon market despite Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s opposition. (Virginia Mercury)
• A West Virginia bill to create an economic development commission along the King Coal Highway is nearly derailed by a line committing to ​“a net-zero carbon footprint for all endeavors” before the line was removed. (Mountain State Spotlight)

PIPELINES:

• Federal regulators approve a 32-mile pipeline in Tennessee to supply new natural gas units the Tennessee Valley Authority plans to build to replace a 2,470-MW coal-fired power plant set for retirement. (Utility Dive)
• Congressional Democrats call on federal regulators to require a new application for a proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline spur into North Carolina after the company reworked the project to shorten its length but increase capacity. (Augusta Free Press)

LITHIUM: ExxonMobil and other oil majors are beginning to return to Arkansas and other rural areas with fossil fuel histories in pursuit of lithium to supply the clean energy transition. (Grist)

SOLAR:

• Appalachian Power asks Virginia regulators to approve its plan to purchase power from 150 MW, 80 MW and 5 MW solar plants under construction. (Cardinal News)
• An Arkansas transportation company prepares to begin construction on a solar array to offset 80% of the energy use at its headquarters. (Talk Business & Politics)
• A Virginia county’s comprehensive zoning ordinance update includes adjustments for solar, battery storage and data centers. (Danville Register & Bee)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Electric vehicle owners in Virginia line up to charge their cars out of worry a cold snap could sap their batteries. (WRIC)

UTILITIES: Kentucky isn’t among the states that restrict electric utility shutoffs during freezing weather, but customers do have avenues to obtain a hardship reconnection or set up payment plans. (Lexington Herald-Leader)

COMMENTARY:

• After Texas’ power grid survived the first winter storm of 2024 without major outages, state officials should work to build out more battery storage and transmission lines to access inexpensive wind energy on the Gulf Coast, writes a columnist. (Houston Chronicle)
• Virginia’s narrowly divided state legislature leads Democrats and Republicans to fight over whether to stay the course on landmark clean energy laws that were passed when Democrats had total control of state government, writes a columnist. (Virginia Mercury)