Briefly Noted

Dominion Energy South Carolina has released a 15-year integrated resource plan calling for the Cope Generating Station coal plant to burn all natural gas beginning in 2030. The 415 megawatt plant currently burns a mix of coal and natural gas. “Dominion Energy is on a trajectory to achieve our goal of net-zero carbon dioxide and methane,” spokesman Matt Long said. “The modified 2020 (integrated resource plan) highlights details about how DESC has already reduced our dependence on coal generation, increased our percentage of solar generation and created a cleaner generation fleet.” * * * With continued and worsening drought and heat plaguing the state, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has proclaimed a State of Emergency and issued an Emergency Proclamation Regarding California Electricity. California has struggled this summer to keep its power grid running as it aggressively transitions away from fossil fuels. Demand for air conditioning has surged just as the state’s historic drought has depleted reservoirs needed for hydropower. The order requests that the California Energy Commission, the California Public Utilities Commission and the California ISO work with the state’s load servicing entities on accelerating plans for the construction, procurement and rapid deployment of new clean energy and storage projects to mitigate the risk of capacity shortages and increase the availability of carbon-free energy at all times of day. The order also creates a temporary program that will pay industrial customers to reduce demand by shifting to back-up generation when supplies get tight. In addition, it waives air quality rules that will permit big power users and ships to use backup diesel power during emergency conditions this summer. * * * Johnsonville Fossil Plant, Tennessee's oldest coal-fired power plant, was demolished over the weekend to make way for lower-emission energy technology. The Tennessee Valley Authority imploded the dormant exhaust equipment and ten boilers at the plant. The coal plant operated from 1951 to 2017. TVA announced it will invest $1 billion in natural gas-fueled combustion turbines to replace coal ash pollution at locations in Tuscumbia, Alabama, and Paradise, Kentucky.