** Florida’s 7,759 total megawatts of solar power on its electric grid puts the state well ahead of North Carolina’s 7,457 megawatts. The Tar Heel State had ranked second in the nation for total solar capacity as recently as early 2020.
** The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said it plans to fine the owners of the shuttered Oyster Creek nuclear power plant $150,000 for security violations at the New Jersey site.
** A new poll showing more than half of U.S. adults would consider purchasing an electric vehicle in the next decade suggests a solid future for EV component manufacturing in the Triad.
** Taylor Energy, the company behind the United State’s longest-running oil spill, has agreed to pay more than $43 million in removal costs, civil penalties and natural resource damages since its pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico began leaking in 2004.
** Offshore wind projects are moving forward after a Maryland Public Service Commission decision to grant more offshore wind credits to proposals by US Wind and Ørsted.
** The Biden administration has finalized a reversal of a rule issued under then-U.S. President Donald Trump that sought to pre-empt California’s vehicle emissions regulations.
** Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is awarding more than $241 million in grants to bolster U.S ports, part of the Biden administration’s near-term plan to address America’s clogged supply chain with infrastructure improvements to speed the flow of goods.
World
** Cold-stricken Europe is drawing a flotilla of U.S. liquefied natural gas cargoes amid an energy crisis that has sent gas prices to record levels. Out of 76 U.S. LNG cargoes in transit, 10 tankers carrying a combined 1.6 million cubic meters of the heating and power plant fuel have declared destinations in Europe, shipping data compiled by Bloomberg shows.
** The Belgian government agreed in principle on Thursday to close its nuclear power plants by 2025, but left open the possibility of extending the life of two reactors if it could not otherwise ensure energy supply.
** Coal production is set to hit an all-time high according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) despite the curbing of production across several countries and aims for decarbonization following COP26. Coal demand has continued to increase through 2021 mainly due to the needs of large Asian countries that still rely on the fossil fuel, as well as gas shortages forcing European states to shift back to coal.
** Ukraine will be able to import daily 8 million cubic metres of gas from the European market via Hungary from January, Ukraine’s state operator of gas transmission said after signing an agreement with the Hungarian operator FGSZ.