West Virginia senators want natural gas hub in Appalachia

CLEAN ENERGY: A new report shows the Southeast lagging the rest of the country on clean energy, but finds many states are among national leaders in specific categories. (Southeast Energy News)

NATURAL GAS: West Virginia senators are asking federal officials to consider building a natural gas storage and distribution hub in Appalachia. (Associated Press)

EMISSIONS: A Virginia lawmaker says Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s recent action to limit carbon emissions in the state is an effort to shut down coal mines and plants. (Bluefield Daily Telegraph)

POLITICS: An analysis of campaign contributions shows the energy industry is hedging its bets in Virginia’s 2018 Senate race. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)

SOLAR:
• Suniva’s Chinese parent company disagrees with Suniva’s call for solar import tariffs. (Renewables Now)
• The next phase of a possible solar farm project on a former landfill in North Carolina narrowly won approval from county commissioners. (Citizen-Times)
• A farming community in rural Virginia attracts its second solar farm project. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

SHALE: A natural gas basin in Louisiana that was part of the shale boom has seen a boost in production for the seventh month in a row. (Bloomberg)

COAL ASH: A county superior court judge has again rejected a disposal company’s request for a stay of an order to stop disposing coal ash in North Carolina. (Progressive Pulse)

COAL:
• Researchers at Western Kentucky University are using mushroom enzymes as a way to burn coal more cleanly. (WKU)
• A University of Virginia professor has written a book about why the state continues to burn so much coal. (WVTF)

RENEWABLE ENERGY: The University of Louisville is researching the possibility of using two types of hemp and another fiber as renewable energy resources. (Associated Press)

OFFSHORE DRILLING: Mayors from the Charleston area and other demonstrators will protest on the beach Saturday in opposition of ocean drilling. (Post and Courier)

UTILITIES: A look at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s history as it turns 84 today. (Politico)

EFFICIENCY: A hotel in Greensboro, North Carolina claims to be the ​“greenest hotel in America.” (Washington Post)

COMMENTARY: Utility deals in West Virginia ​“may be evidence of the need for more competition and less regulation.” (Exponent Telegram)