TVA backs away from renewables

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There goes the sun: The Tennessee Valley Authority’s latest draft Integrated Resource Plan moves the federal utility away from renewable energy, downgrading the 20 GW of solar it expected to utilize to just 5 GW and erasing wind entirely. Instead, TVA plans to double its investment in gas power, keep its coal fleet running through 2039, and extend the licenses of its nuclear facilities. (Grist)

Bring out the big check: The U.S. Energy Department finalizes a $3.26 billion loan for the Texas arm of American Electric Power to finance about 100 transmission projects and upgrades across the state. (Utility Dive)

Decarbonization deferred: The Trump administration blocks households from using federal tax incentives to swap fossil fuel heating, stoves, and other appliances for electric alternatives. That funding has helped families in northwestern North Carolina as they continue to recover from 2024’s Hurricane Helene. (Canary Media)

Home, efficient home: A new law will push the federal government to strengthen energy-conservation standards for manufactured homes — a policy that will especially benefit residents in the Southeast. (Canary Media)

A powerful partnership: Virginia will partner with nonprofit Switch Together on a program to reduce the cost of residential solar installations and help homeowners lower their power bills. (Virginia Mercury)

Coal plant challenge: A coalition of environmental groups sues the Trump administration over its emergency order keeping a Florida coal plant from retiring, alleging it will raise power costs for Floridians and burden surrounding communities with unhealthy air. (Inside Climate News)

New grid rules: Texas’ Public Utility Commission approves new rules that require data centers and other large power users to be able to stay online during small grid interruptions to avoid sparking cascading outages. (E&E News)

Oversight, out of mind: The U.S. EPA moves to let Alabama manage oversight of its own coal ash — three years after the Biden administration rejected a similar proposal by state regulators over health and safety concerns. (E&E News)

Solar and the city: Richmond, Virginia, considers installing as much as 5 MW of solar power on top of city-owned buildings, replicating an arrangement the city’s school district already has in place with developer Secure Solar Futures. (Richmonder)

LNG fight flounders: A federal appeals court dismisses environmental groups’ challenge to a deepwater natural gas export terminal off Louisiana, saying they don’t have legal standing to fight the facility. (E&E News)