Texas shows how electricity use patterns are evolving

GRID: ERCOT’s CEO says extreme heat and increased solar capacity are fundamentally changing electricity use patterns in Texas, and that ​“flexibility is critical” to managing evolving needs. (KVUE)

ALSO: Entergy announces a $1 billion plan to improve grid reliability in New Orleans. (news release)

OIL & GAS: Climate activist Bill McKibben urges federal regulators to reject a proposed Louisiana gas export project, calling it an ​“environmental justice train wreck.” (E&E News, subscription)

PIPELINES: Virginia property owners file an emergency motion to try to stop construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline. (Bloomberg)

HYDROGEN: Advocates urge scrutiny of hydrogen hubs receiving an influx of federal funds, warning projects that rely heavily on natural gas could actually lead to an increase in emissions. (Tennessee Lookout)

EFFICIENCY: Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is leading an effort to prevent the federal government from updating building codes for housing built with public funds. (HuffPost)

UTILITIES: Gas utilities in North Carolina are offering carbon offsets for customers who want to compensate for their homes’ emissions. (PRE)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• Tesla says its Gigafactory in Texas has paid more than $15 million in local taxes since 2020 and supports more than 15,000 jobs. (KVUE)
• An Alabama community college acquires an electric heavy-duty truck to introduce students in its diesel repair program to the technology. (Fox54)
• Knoxville, Tennessee officials approve funding for 30 charging stations to support electrification of the city’s fleet. (Knoxville News Sentinel)
• Increased registration fees for electric vehicles to offset lost gasoline tax revenue will take effect in North Carolina in January. (Raleigh News & Observer)

NUCLEAR: A project manager for a failed South Carolina nuclear plant expansion is sentenced to six months of home detention for lying to federal investigators. (Post and Courier)

COAL:

• An industry group says West Virginia is a ​“safe haven” for coal and thanks lawmakers for ​“pro-coal policies and assistance.” (WV Public)
• A judge delays an order to seize a helicopter owned by one of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s coal companies to pay off creditors. (Williamson Daily News)
• A Virginia Tech researcher has developed a method for turning coal into graphene, a ​“wonder material” used in a variety of applications. (news release)

COMMENTARY:

• A columnist says overcoming fear of the federal government is the key to grid reliability in Texas. (Austin American-Statesman)
• A gas industry analyst says data from last weekend’s annular eclipse shows natural gas still provides most of the backup for solar generation in Texas, but battery storage is poised for significant growth. (BTU Analytics)
• Advocates say recent Duke Energy rate cases and a new financing program for energy efficiency are big wins for low-income ratepayers. (Appalachian Voices)
• A watchdog group says Alabama’s top utility regulator made misleading claims about Alabama Power’s profit margins in a meeting with legislators. (Energy and Policy Institute)