Good morning. We made it to the end of the week — Southeast Energy News’ first in its new home at Canary Media.
Today, we’re looking at why a company is canceling its plans to build a battery factory in Georgia. A pair of Kentucky battery plants are still on track, and its employees will soon hold an election on whether to unionize. And on the coasts, soaring insurance rates driven by climate risk are beginning to unravel the housing market.
Climate change threatens to destabilize Texas’ housing market as insurance rates in vulnerable areas soar to the point where homeowners can’t afford them and potential buyers are unwilling to assume the cost. (Houston Chronicle)
CARBON CAPTURE
Texas carbon capture advocates call for the state to attain regulatory oversight powers because the U.S. EPA has failed to approve any of 17 proposals so far, and Occidental Petroleum’s ambitious plans have now reached the public review stage. (Texas Tribune)
The owner of a large Texas ranch sues the federal government for allegedly failing to conduct an environmental review of a planned wind farm the plaintiff argues will threaten endangered birds. (Bloomberg, subscription)
The Tennessee Valley Authority’s CEO says the federal utility likely will comply with Trump’s order for workers to fully return to in-office work. (Chattanooga Times Free Press, subscription)
UTILITIES
Despite congressional concerns about growing power demand, Tennessee Valley Authority CEO Jeff Lyash says the federal utility always agrees to provide power for new businesses. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
West Virginia’s culture is built largely around the fading coal industry even though healthcare has supplanted it as the state’s top industry, writes a doctor. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)
An editorial board discusses Arkansas’ prospective wind energy industry after state lawmakers kill a bill to limit wind turbine height to protect migratory birds. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, subscription)
A longtime Georgia energy regulator takes issue with a recent news story suggesting state officials have “rubber stamped” Georgia Power’s long-term plans without adding more renewables. (Macon Telegraph)
