Why more people are moving to the climate crisis’ epicenter

CLIMATE: Black Americans’ migration to the Southeast to escape environmental racism and poor health outcomes in the North and Midwest means a growing number of people are moving toward the epicenter of the climate crisis. (Capital B)

BIOMASS: Opponents of a wood pellet producer’s planned Alabama plant cheer reports the company is experiencing a financial crisis that could undercut its plans to expand. (Inside Climate News)

POLITICS:

• Outgoing Democratic Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards hails progress toward the state’s 2050 net zero goal and urges climate change-denying Republican successor Jeff Landry to stay the course. (NOLA.com)
• Congressional Democrats file legislation to make it easier for families of deceased coal miners to obtain black lung benefits, but Republicans seem unlikely to approve it. (WKYU)

SOLAR:

• A renewables company begins construction of a 160 MW solar farm in Kentucky, expected to be the largest in the state. (Solar Power World)
• A Japanese auto parts supplier agrees to source 50 MW of capacity from a Texas solar farm to offset its carbon emissions. (Renewables Now)
• A growing number of Texans file complaints against solar companies over delays and misinformation. (KEYE)

STORAGE:

• A West Virginia battery plant will supply iron oxide batteries for a California power storage project. (West Virginia Public Broadcasting)
• Korean battery makers that have built facilities in the Southeast expect to receive incentives from the U.S. climate package. (Korea Herald)

WIND:

• The behind-schedule, over-budget Texas-based construction of a specialized ship to build offshore wind turbines underscores the offshore industry’s recent challenges. (Wall Street Journal, subscription)
• After a lackluster federal auction over the summer, Louisiana approves two wind energy operating agreements in state offshore waters. (New Orleans City Business)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• Four of Asheville, North Carolina’s five electric buses are out of commission because the city can’t obtain parts while the manufacturer is in bankruptcy. (Asheville Watchdog)
• West Virginia transportation officials project they’ll build 912 new public charging ports with $45.7 million in federal funds. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)
• Chattanooga, Tennessee, adds 15 electric scooters to its bike share fleet. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

NUCLEAR:

• A nuclear energy company announces it will expand its Virginia facilities, assisted by a $5 million state grant. (Cardinal News)
• A newly approved nuclear reactor in Tennessee is the first non-water-cooled reactor approved for construction in the U.S. in over 50 years. (Tennessee Lookout)

OVERSIGHT:

• Federal regulators consider a proposed settlement to resolve 15 complaints by owners of power plants that failed during the 2022 Christmas cold snap, as well as a study on the availability of blackstart generators in Texas. (S&P Global)
• Virginia energy officials schedule a series of meetings to discuss potential solar and nuclear projects on former coal mines. (Kingsport TimesNews)

GRID:

• Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the CEO of the state’s grid operator tout a planned 425 MW natural gas plant as they say the state grid is ready for winter, with ​“more generating and dispatchable resources available” than ever. (Houston Chronicle, KXAN)
• The Tennessee Valley Authority invested nearly $123 million over three months to enhance reliability at its coal, gas and hydro plants after last year’s rolling blackouts. (WKRN)
• Dominion Energy closes part of Richmond, Virginia’s Canal Walk to upgrade a power plant and substation. (WRIC)

UTILITIES: The Tennessee Valley Authority projects the need to boost power production due to rising demand from electric cars, data centers and overall economic growth. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

COMMENTARY: Indiana should emulate Kentucky’s example and pass a law making it more difficult for utilities to close coal-fired power plants to ensure grid reliability, writes a Republican town council member. (Cleburne Times-Review)