Why Dominion’s offshore farm irks Virginians on land

WIND: Dominion Energy’s construction of facilities to bring power ashore from its offshore wind farm near Virginia causes stress for its neighbors. (Virginian-Pilot)

ALSO: Louisiana colleges add wind energy training programs for both young students and workers transitioning from the oil and gas industry. (Utility Dive)

CLIMATE:

• Texas’ largest wildfire on record continues to burn, having resulted in at least two deaths and scorched more than 1 million acres. (Washington Post, Texas Tribune)
• At least six lawsuits have been filed against energy companies blaming failed maintenance of a power pole for wildfires in Texas and Oklahoma. (WPEC, Spectrum News)
• Alabama residents push state regulators to dedicate two properties to parkland to prevent development and reduce landslide risk that’s been worsened by climate change. (Inside Climate News)
• Florida homeowners who live in places vulnerable to rising seas and hurricanes face skyrocketing insurance rates that could push them to move elsewhere. (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

SOLAR:

• North Carolina solar advocates appeal a court ruling allowing Duke Energy to reduce net metering rates. (PV Magazine)
• A Virginia community college pursues a solar project that would make it the first in the state to enter into a power purchase agreement. (Cardinal News)
• Virginia lawmakers passed several energy bills this year, including one to allow customers of Appalachian Power to purchase electricity from a community solar program. (Cardinal News, Roanoke Times)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Electric vehicle maker Rivian struggled with supply chain issues, sagging demand for EVs and pressure from investors before canceling plans to build a $5 billion factory in Georgia. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, subscription)

OIL & GAS: Texas regulators slow the development of a $1 billion program to incentivize energy generation during times of grid stress, calling for it to be implemented alongside other efforts to reform the state’s power market. (Utility Dive)

COAL:

• Ten coal barges break free from a towing vessel in the Ohio River, with two ending up partially submerged. (Spectrum News)
• Coal still provides 89% of West Virginia’s power, but Toyota and other companies are beginning to build solar facilities. (State Journal)

GRID:

• The CEO of Arkansas’ electric cooperatives association speculates about the development of more nuclear power and whether a long-term blackout could cause utilities to slow the closure of coal-fired power plants. (Arkansas Business)
• A South Carolina electric cooperative receives $38.4 million in federal funding for grid improvements. (Go Laurens)
• Florida Power & Light aims to move power lines underground to facilitate a redevelopment project. (Margate News)

UTILITIES:

• Tennessee Congress members introduce legislation to make the Tennessee Valley Authority’s planning process more transparent. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
• Georgia lawmakers consider legislation to reconstitute a utility counsel to represent customers when companies ask for rate increases. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, subscription)

POLITICS: Two West Texas oil billionaires use campaign contributions to wield power in the state’s 2024 primaries and push Republicans farther to the right. (Texas Tribune)

COMMENTARY:

• New rules passed by Kentucky lawmakers in an attempt to preserve coal-fired power plants won’t slow the clean energy transition but will add chaos that will negatively affect low-income customers, writes an environmentalist. (Kentucky Lantern)

The trial of former executives of Jacksonville, Florida’s municipal utility brings back memories of 2019, when they excused fishy behavior during a push to privatize the utility, writes a columnist. (Florida Times–Union)