Virginia governor’s power grab derails state climate progress

POLICY: Virginia’s Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has unilaterally disregarded multiple state climate laws passed by the Democratically controlled legislature, creating a legal crisis that could delay implementation for years. (E&E News)

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OFFSHORE WIND:

• The federal government announces an offshore wind energy lease sale that will include areas off the coast of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. (WRDE)
• A giant ship being built in Brownsville, Texas, is expected to boost the country’s capacity to build offshore wind farms when it’s completed next year, though a second Trump presidency could imperil future projects. (NBC News)

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CLIMATE:

• Stronger storms and sea-level rise are accelerating erosion that has caused six beachfront homes in four years to collapse along North Carolina’s Outer Banks. (WTVD)
• A study finds that heat waves in Richmond, Virginia, disproportionately affect low-income, Black residents, who often live in urban heat islands and also lack convenient access to cooling centers. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
• A new Virginia law taking effect today bans utilities from shutting off electricity for nonpayment if temperatures reach 92 degrees or more. (WWBT)

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UTILITIES: At least 60 neighbors have emailed North Carolina regulators to oppose Duke Energy’s plans to build two natural gas turbines on the site of an existing coal-fired power plant. (News & Observer)

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EFFICIENCY:

• North Carolina lawmakers advance legislation that would establish a Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy program in the state. (WRAL)
• A new Florida law lets homeowners finance energy saving and resilience improvements through their property tax assessments. (Florida Politics)

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GRID: An Austin energy consultant discusses the state of Texas’ power grid, including how solar is helping it meet summertime demand. (Texas Observer)  

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SOLAR:

• A nonprofit group’s new solar training program in Georgetown, South Carolina, is paying students to learn how to install solar infrastructure. (WMBF)  
• A dozen New Orleans churches have established solar-powered resilience hubs where residents can come during power outages and disasters. (WVUE)
• A West Virginia county commission takes no action on a solar project’s proposed payment-in-lieu-of-taxes arrangement after hearing local opposition. (Journal)

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COAL: Virginia’s efforts to clean up abandoned mine lands have been supercharged by federal funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. (Virginia Mercury)

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CO2 STORAGE: As Texas opens more offshore areas for carbon sequestration projects, experts foresee the Gulf Coast becoming a global hub for underground disposal of greenhouse gases. (Inside Climate News)

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PIPELINES: Virginia organizers mark the fourth anniversary of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s cancellation with a celebration and book release about the pipeline fight. (Daily Progress)

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