Abandoned oil and gas wells complicate Louisiana’s carbon capture hopes

OIL & GAS: Louisiana is home to about a third of the nearly 200 carbon storage wells seeking permits in the U.S., but watchdog groups warn the presence of at least 186,000 abandoned oil and gas wells could complicate the process and cause safety issues. (Verite News)

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ALSO: A San Antonio company files for reorganizational bankruptcy and moves to withdraw from a partnership to build a $10 billion liquefied natural gas export terminal on the Gulf Coast. (San Antonio Report)

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INDUSTRY: The Biden administration is banking on “green steel” factories in Mississippi and Ohio that will run on clean hydrogen to provide a model to decarbonize one of the world’s dirtiest industries. (Canary Media)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Nissan delays changes at a Mississippi factory to produce more electric vehicles due to concerns about customer demand. (CNN)

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SOLAR:

• Virginia regulators fine a solar company $158,000 for erosion, sediment and stormwater runoff violations at seven solar facilities. (Cardinal News)
• West Virginia has lagged on solar development because of policymakers’ focus on coal, but a new report finds that federal incentives have resulted in “one of the largest pipelines for future utility-scale solar development.” (Solar Industry)
• An Arkansas city announces its second solar plant, which combined with its first will provide half of the municipal government’s power. (KATV)
• A Virginia county board hears about a proposed solar farm as it considers changes to its zoning ordinance for such projects. (WJHL)
• A Texas-based company announces solar projects in Georgia and Pennsylvania totaling 350 MW. (news release)

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CLEAN ENERGY: Virginia regulators approve three Dominion Energy battery projects, and Appalachian Power issues requests for battery, wind and solar projects as the two utilities aim to meet state decarbonization mandates. (Virginia Mercury)

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POLITICS: Democrats say Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s refusal to rejoin a regional carbon market will cost the state $150 million annually, despite additional funding for state flood control programs. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

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PIPELINES: A pipeline safety advocate discusses concerns about the Mountain Valley Pipeline after a section ruptured during water pressure testing. (West Virginia Public Broadcasting)

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CLIMATE:

• “It is very clear that there is more damage, for whatever reason.” Florida utility officials discuss how the increased intensity of recent hurricanes has made storm preparation more difficult and expensive. (WFTV)
• Florida officials warn residents to prepare for what’s forecast to be an “extremely active” hurricane season beginning next month. (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)A Florida meteorologist criticizes a new law that removes most references to climate change from state code. (CNN)
• Texas plans to spend $6 billion to alleviate flooding along a major evacuation route out of Houston, but state officials say they can’t guarantee the project will make much difference. (Texas Tribune)

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COMMENTARY:

• South Carolina lawmakers should focus not just on boosting electricity generation through new plants, but also block tax exemptions for power-hungry data centers that are driving up demand and stressing the grid, writes an editorial board. (Post and Courier)
• An energy columnist calls for Texas to approve stricter building codes and strengthen the power grid after severe storms killed eight people, left hundreds of thousands without power and caused $5 billion in damage in Houston. (Houston Chronicle)

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