Virginia’s solar conundrum: Clean energy or open space

SOLAR: Virginia’s environmental protection agency develops rules around solar projects proposed for more than 10 acres of farmland or 50 acres of forest, prompting consternation from clean energy advocates worried that restrictions will hamper the state’s ability to meet its climate goals. (Virginia Mercury)

ALSO: A new report ranks Georgia second in the nation for solar manufacturing and fifth for solar installation in 2024. (GPB)

COAL ASH: The U.S. Supreme Court rejects a Kentucky electric cooperative’s attempt to block the U.S. EPA from requiring utilities to monitor and remediate coal ash at facilities that are no longer producing the toxic substance. (New York Times, SCOTUSblog)

EMISSIONS:

• A federal appeals court rejects Exxon Mobil’s appeal and upholds a judge’s 2021 ruling that imposed a $14.25 million fine for thousands of air quality violations at a Texas refinery and chemical plant complex. (Texas Tribune)
• Appalachian Power tells West Virginia regulators it can meet federal greenhouse gas limits by converting two coal-burning plants at least partially to natural gas or by closing both altogether. (West Virginia Public Broadcasting)

OVERSIGHT:

• A new report finds regulated power companies regularly charge customers for nonessential lobbying, advertising and luxury costs, including a 2019 instance in which Dominion tried to pass nearly $1 million in golf and country club memberships to its South Carolina customers. (Floodlight)
• The U.S. Energy Department defers approval of two liquified natural gas export terminals in Louisiana until the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission completes its review. (Reuters)
• The chief justice of Florida’s Supreme Court criticizes state utility regulators for not adequately explaining their decisions as the court hears arguments in a case appealing a 2023 order that set rates for a natural gas company. (Tampa Bay Times)

STORAGE:

• A new report finds the deployment of 5 GW of new storage capacity to the Texas grid since 2023 saved taxpayers at least $750 million by lowering prices and reducing the risk of outages. (Utility Dive)
• Texas’ grid operator considers making changes to grow an underutilized virtual power plant pilot project that’s fallen short of its goal to capture 80 MW of batteries and other distributed resources. (Utility Dive)

GRID: Google contracts a Houston-based renewable energy developer to build $20 billion of renewables and battery storage in energy parks that will power the tech company’s data centers. (Utility Dive)

PIPELINES: West Virginia regulators twice flagged the Mountain Valley Pipeline for erosion control problems, but unlike neighboring Virginia declined to issue fines over the violations. (West Virginia Public Broadcasting)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: A Kentucky law that takes effect in January will increase annual ownership fees for electric vehicle owners. (WHAS)

UTILITIES: As the Tennessee Valley Authority wraps up the public comment period on its long-term generation plan, Congress members and clean energy advocates argue against its plan to build more gas-fired power plants. (WHNT, news releases)

COMMENTARY:

• A Virginia county administrator assures residents that state officials will give careful consideration to any nuclear energy projects proposed for the region. (Cardinal News)
• Tallahassee, Florida’s growing clean energy sector is giving consumers more options while making the state’s grid and economy stronger, writes the​executive director of Conservatives for Clean Energy-Florida. (Tallahassee Democrat)