** SpaceX discovered unexpected erosion on its Crew Dragon spaceship’s heat shield after its first astronaut mission. A SpaceX executive said the crew members — NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley — were never in danger. But as a precaution, SpaceX has updated the heat shield ahead of its next crewed launch in October.
** NASA wants to build a permanent base on the moon by the 2030s — a place astronauts could stay for extended visits at the lunar south pole. But according to a new study, any astronauts who go there would face levels of radiation nearly three times higher than what the astronauts on the space station deal with.
** A study of home prices over 15 years in Massachusetts and Rhode Island says solar arrays built on farms and forest land can lower values of nearby homes.
** NextEra recently approached Duke Energy about a possible takeover, which was rejected but could still be pursued later, according to people familiar with the matter.
** A New York town adopts a zoning law that bans ground-mounted solar panels on residential lots.
** Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse accuses the Trump administration of “slow-walking” offshore wind permitting to help the natural gas industry.
** A Florida county postpones a meeting on a proposed solar farm after hundreds of residents lose power during the hybrid virtual/in-person meeting.
** Vistra Energy announces plans to retire its coal fleet totaling nearly 7,000 MW in Illinois and Ohio by 2027 as it invests in solar and storage projects.
** A federal judge blocks a proposed joint venture between Peabody Energy and Arch Resources, saying it would “substantially impair competition” in the Powder River Basin coal market.
** A federal grant program is helping a growing number of Missouri farmers install solar projects on their land to offset energy costs.
** Matador Resources Company announced plans to release third quarter 2020 operational and financial results after the close of trading on Tuesday, October 27, 2020. Management will also host a live conference call on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time to review third quarter 2020 financial results and operational highlights.
