Why Georgia’s energy board hasn’t had an election in years

OVERSIGHT: As Georgia’s regulatory board goes years without elections, a group of Black voters appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to shift from at-large elections to having each commissioner elected by voters in the district where they live. (Grist/​WABE)

GRID:

• Louisiana regulators approve the $1.9 billion first phase of Entergy’s plan to shore up the grid with 2,100 different projects, though few involve moving power lines underground. (Daily Energy Insider, Louisiana Illuminator)
• The CEO of Texas’ grid operator warns population growth, artificial intelligence-driving data centers and cryptocurrency miners are driving up power demand, but argues it’s still better off not connecting to other regional grids. (Dallas Morning News, KDFW)
• Texas’ grid operator warns it may block San Antonio’s municipal utility from closing three natural gas units totaling 859 MW to preserve grid reliability. (San Antonio Current)
• A developer asks Texas regulators to approve construction of a 14-mile transmission line. (KFDA)

SOLAR:

• Solar manufacturer Qcells signs an agreement to install up to 450 MW of solar projects manufactured at its Georgia plant for a renewable energy infrastructure private equity firm focused on community solar. (Korea Economic Daily)
• North Carolina and Pennsylvania colleges partner on a virtual power purchase agreement driving construction of a solar facility in Kentucky. (Spectrum News)
• A Virginia county board approves a siting agreement and conditional use permit for a 150 MW solar farm in Virginia. (Renewables Now)
• A study finds North Carolina ranks fourth in the U.S. for solar capacity, and 30th for wind. (Axios)
• A Nigerian immigrant works with a Texas energy poverty institute on projects to make solar panels and virtual power plants more accessible to low-income families. (CNET)

PIPELINES:

• Environmental groups sue to challenge federal regulators’ approval of an extension for the Mountain Valley Pipeline’s spur into North Carolina, arguing the project has changed so much the pipeline should be required to start the permitting process over. (Cardinal News)
• Two Tennessee towns will receive federal funding to replace aging natural gas pipeline infrastructure. (WSMV)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Tesla announces it will lay off 10% of its workforce, including 2,688 employees at its headquarters and flagship factory in Texas. (Houston Chronicle)

NUCLEAR: A nuclear energy company building an advanced fuel facility in Tennessee receives a $148.5 million tax credit from the federal government. (Knoxville News Sentinel)

EMISSIONS: A new report shows the Houston area has the second worst air quality in the country, according to data from the U.S. EPA. (Houston Chronicle)

COMMENTARY:

• A Georgia ride-share driver enthusiastically backs electric vehicles as his Chevy Bolt hits 250,000 miles as 2024 looks to be a gap year that tests the EV transition, writes a columnist. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• The president of a South Carolina electric cooperative argues a Google data center leads to lower energy costs by allowing the cooperative to spread its costs across a larger customer base. (Post and Courier)