Good morning! For years, natural gas advocates have positioned the fossil fuel as a “bridge” from coal to clean energy. Then Tennessee lawmakers took it a step further, branding it as “clean energy” in state law. Now, they’re looking to label it as “green” and “renewable” so it’s not subject to local clean energy mandates.
And in Georgia, advocates say Georgia Power’s long-range plans are ignoring its opportunity to build more renewables.
For those stories and more, read on.
TODAY'S TOP NEWS
FOSSIL FUELS
Tennessee lawmakers consider reclassifying natural gas — already defined in state law as “clean energy” — as “clean,” “green” and “renewable” to block local attempts to require certain amounts of energy to come from clean or renewable sources. (WPLN)
A pair of Trump cabinet secretaries cheer on the growth of liquified natural gas exports during a visit to a Louisiana LNG plant that plans an $18 billion expansion. (Associated Press)
The U.S. Energy Department grants a permit extension for a liquefied natural gas export terminal jointly owned by QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil that’s under construction in Texas. (Utility Dive)
RENEWABLES
Experts say Georgia Power’s lack of attention toward energy efficiency and the removal of incentives for residents to install rooftop solar is preventing it from incorporating more renewables into its long-term plan. (Columbus Ledger-Enquirer)
Texas generated 169,442 GWh from wind and solar in 2024, leading the country in wind and ranking only behind California for solar. (Inside Climate News)
Texas led the U.S. in utility-scale solar installations in the fourth quarter of 2024, with eight companies commissioning solar component manufacturing facilities in the state. (PV Magazine)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Trump’s rollback of Biden-era clean energy programs could disrupt workers in Republican-led Southeast states in the so-called “battery belt” that have seen a wave of investment in electric vehicle battery plants. (The Lever)
Clean energy advocates and state lawmakers warn Trump’s clean energy rollbacks could disrupt dozens of projects promising tens of thousands of jobs in the Carolinas. (WRAL, WSOC)
SOLAR
Virginia lawmakers pass legislation to increase the carve-out for small solar in Dominion Energy’s renewable portfolio requirement from 1% to 5%. (WVIR)
A Florida county installs a 2 MW solar array to generate 60% of the power for a water treatment plant, saving a projected $400,000 annually. (WKMG)
A Habitat for Humanity program in Virginia retrofits affordable housing projects with solar panels, lowering energy costs for residents. (Winchester Star)
POLITICS
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signs a $40.5 billion state budget that includes $863 million in relief funding for communities affected by Hurricane Helene. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
GRID
An energy company applies for $200 million in federal funding to install “smart grid” technology in Florida and the Carolinas. (SC Now)
Virginia lawmakers passed only four of about 20 bills introduced to address data center development this session, including a requirement for site assessments in certain situations and a study of demand response programs. (Cardinal News)
COMMENTARY
West Virginia lawmakers disingenuously call for an even playing field when targeting tax breaks for renewables after they’ve repeatedly passed laws to prop up the sagging coal industry, writes a columnist. (West Virginia Watch)
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