Virginia DEQ defends review process for pipeline

PIPELINES: The head of Virginia’s DEQ says ​“we are going way above and beyond” in determining what impact two pipelines projects would have on water quality, though environmental groups disagree. (Associated Press)

ALSO: More than two dozen faith leaders in Virginia have signed a letter opposing the proposed Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley Pipelines projects. (Augusta Free Press)

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SOLAR:
• Certain language in a solar bill passed by the North Carolina House and being considered by the Senate applies only to two Duke utilities. (Charlotte Business Journal)
• The PACE home improvement financing program says a lawsuit filed by customers, including those in Florida, is flawed and should be dismissed. (Sun Sentinel)
• Erosion from heavy rain at a solar farm on Air Force property in Florida has released sediment into nearby waters. (Northwest Florida Daily News)
• South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. is launching a 16 MW community solar program, which will be the state’s largest. (Associated Press)
• North Carolina is second among states for the new solar capacity it added during the first quarter, according to a new industry report. (Triad Business Journal)
• Dominion Energy is adding six new sites to its Solar for Students program, which installs small solar arrays for students to study. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
• Environmental benefits and economic incentives are prompting some South Carolina homeowners to install solar panels. (Coastal Observer)

NUCLEAR:
• Dominion Energy says it probably won’t decide for many years whether to build a third reactor at its North Anna Power Station in Virginia. (Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star)
• Documents show how Southern Co. failed to anticipate how difficult the Vogtle project would become. (E&E News)

COAL:
• Alpha Natural Resources plans to open a new underground metallurgical coal mine in West Virginia this summer. (Associated Press)
• Seven coal miners in the U.S., including miners West Virginia and Kentucky, have died in job-related accidents this year and most lacked mining experience, as federal officials are launching a voluntary training initiative in response to the deaths. (Associated Press, Charleston Mail-Gazette)

RENEWABLE ENERGY: Researchers, including at the University of Arkansas, are studying ways to improve the storage of energy generated by renewable sources. (phys.org)

NATURAL GAS: A shipment of liquefied natural gas from Louisiana arrived in Poland Thursday and is the country’s first ever from the United States. (Advocate)

COMMENTARY:
• A columnist praises a solar bill passed by the North Carolina House, saying ​“what is good for renewable energy is good for the state.” (News & Record)
• Even though West Virginia needs to increase its renewable energy production, a rise in coal and natural gas production is good news. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)
• Solar power in South Carolina ​“is no longer a pipe dream. It’s becoming a growing business.” (Aiken Standard)