West Virginia Sen. Manchin being considered for Energy Secretary
Written By Jim Pierobon December 2, 2016
POLICY: Sen. Joe Manchin, D-WV, reportedly is under consideration to be the next Secretary of Energy. (The Hill)
• A new report ranking Florida third in the nation for solar potential is designed to help advocates fend of anti-solar proposals in the state's legislature. (Environment Florida / WUSF)
• SolarCity's entry into the Florida market signals confidence in the state after the defeat of Amendment 1 and passage of Amendment 4. (PV Magazine)
• A St. Petersburg Republican files a bill in Florida to implement solar tax breaks outlined under Amendment 4. (Florida Politics)
CLIMATE: How South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's energy policies could influence her actions on climate change as U.N. Ambassador. (News.Mic)
NATURAL GAS: Exports of liquefied natural gas from Louisiana and perhaps elsewhere is a sticking point in an energy bill that could pass Congress before year's end. (E&E Daily)
COAL:
• Sen. Joe Manchin, D-WV, sees progress on an extension of miners' health insurance but nothing yet for their pensions. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)
• Can the U.S. follow Germany's example by helping coal workers become solar installers? (Greenbiz.com)
• A key Democratic state lawmaker in Virginia doesn't see coal jobs coming back and signals the state's need to help impacted communities in other ways. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
• Duke Energy pushes back at a frequent critic's bid to require a public hearing over the utility's plan to transition a coal-fired power plant to burn natural gas. (Charlotte Business Journal)
• A county board unanimously rejects a Sierra Club appeal to stop the TVA from using Memphis drinking water to cool a natural gas-fueled power plant. (Memphis Flyer)
NUCLEAR:
• Federal regulators extend the operating license of Entergy's Grand Gulf plant in Mississippi for 20 years through 2044. (Mississippi Today)
• Georgia Power clears two construction milestones for its reactors under construction at Plant Vogtle. (World Nuclear News)
• Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed is joining the board of a new international organization of mayors targeting climate change mitigation. (Atlanta Business Chronicle)
• A Miami educator is called the "Jane Goodall of climate change." (Miami Herald)
• St. Petersburg, Florida is using its BP oil spill settlement money to fund its drive towards more efficiency and renewable energy. (ThinkProgress)
• Hillsborough County is among the latest Florida jurisdictions to launch a PACE program. (Tampa Bay Times/Southeast Energy News archive)
OFFSHORE DRILLING:
• With a cost-cutting plan in hand, BP is set to wade back into drilling off the coast of Louisiana. (Wall Street Journal)
• Environmentalists and businesses alike prepare to fight against seismic testing off South Carolina's coast. (South Strand News)
PIPELINES: Opponents of a natural gas liquids pipeline across Kentucky call for a more a thorough analysis before it's approved. (WKYU)
• Virginia's approval of a second Tesla store in the state signals its penchant for free markets. Could solar from Tesla's sister company be far behind? (Bacon's Rebellion)
• Georgia Power ratepayers are getting a "lump of uranium" this Christmas in the form of higher rates to pay for two often-delayed, over-budget, nuclear reactors. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• An advocate for nuclear energy spotlights South Carolina's reliance on its seven reactors with two more under construction. (Aiken Standard)
• The changing political climate may make room for more "clean coal" plants. (Forbes)
About Jim Pierobon
Jim Pierobon, a policy, marketing and social media strategist, was a founding contributor to Southeast Energy News. He passed away after a long battle with pancreatic cancer in 2018.
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