Trump climate order unlikely to provide significant boost for coal country

CLIMATE: President Donald Trump will sign an executive order today undo climate change initiatives in an effort to boost domestic energy production of fossil fuels. (Associated Press)

COAL:
• Trump’s executive order is unlikely to provide any significant rescue for West Virginia’s coal industry and others because it won’t immediately boost demand for coal. (Charleston Gazette-Mail, Bloomberg)
• Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell announced his support on Monday to accelerate the release of mine reclamation funds. (Lexington Herald-Leader)
• A West Virginia senator pushing to extend retired coal miners’ benefits will meet with miners on Friday. (Associated Press)
• Historic photos show the rise and decline of a Kentucky coal town. (Daily Mail)

WIND:
• Unless North Carolina enacts aggressive renewable energy goals, the state’s first offshore wind farm is still a decade or more away despite the auction earlier this month. (Southeast Energy News)
• Tennessee lawmakers kill a bill that would impose new restrictions on wind energy. (Knoxville News Sentinel)

NUCLEAR:
• One of the partners in the Plant Vogtle nuclear plant expansion said Monday the already-delayed project probably won’t be completed by its latest deadline. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• Santee Cooper refuses to release details about its contingency plans for a South Carolina nuclear plant. (Charleston Post and Courier)

NATURAL GAS: A Duke University committee will consider public comments from a Monday meeting about a power plant on campus that has faced opposition since it was proposed last year. (WRAL)

FRACKING: Opponents spoke on Monday against an industry-back bill in the West Virginia Senate that would help natural gas companies force unwilling mineral owners to allow drilling. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)

SOLAR:
• Using PACE loans to finance solar systems in Florida could have unintended consequences for property owners. (SaintPetersBlog)
• North Carolina’s attorney general is investigating consumer complaints about a solar installer. (WSOC)

GRID: How energy storage could be the next job creator in North Carolina and elsewhere. (EnergyWire)

COMMENTARY:
• President Donald Trump’s executive order to undo climate change rules would give Florida energy companies ​“a green light to churn out as much energy as possible with zero consideration for how that production affects the global climate.” (Miami New Times)
• Advocates say clean energy can lower costs and improve health in North Carolina. (Raleigh News & Observer)
• Can innovation save nuclear power? (Vox)