Policy, Regulatory & Legal | May 16 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Jim Nolan Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli sketched a wide-ranging energy policy for Virginia Thursday that was short on specifics but long on the idea that less regulation and continued reliance on coal are central to the economic success of the commonwealth.

Policy, Regulatory & Legal | May 16 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Columbus Telegram, Neb.

The difference between relicensing the Loup Public Power District hydroelectric canal in 1984 and in 2014 is best understood visually.

Policy, Regulatory & Legal | SEATTLE, May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire

Labor and business leaders are praising the Washington state Legislature and Gov. Jay Inslee for the passage of Senate Bill 5297, which was signed into law by Inslee last week, and becomes effective this July.

Business & Corporate | May 16 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - E. Scott Reckard Los Angeles Times

Fresh off its first profitable quarter, Tesla Motors Inc. plans to raise about $830 million in a stock and debt offering that will enable the electric car maker to pay off its $465-million federal loan.

Grid Operations | AUSTIN, Texas, May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire

The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) unanimously approved May 9 an application by Electric Transmission Texas, LLC (ETT) for a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CCN) to build a 345-kV transmission line from the Laredo area into the Rio Grande Valley.

Business & Corporate | DALLAS, May 16, 2013 -- BUSINESS WIRE

Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE: ETP) today announced it has commenced exchange offers to exchange any and all of the 7.60% Senior Notes due 2024 (CUSIP 844030AA4), 8.25% Senior Notes due 2029 (CUSIP 844030AC0) (collectively, the "Existing Senior Notes") and Junior Subordinated Notes due 2066 (CUSIP 844030AH9) (together with the Existing Senior Notes, the "Existing Notes") issued by Southern Union Company ("Southern Union") for ETP's new 7.60% Senior Notes due 2024, 8.25% Senior Notes due 2029 (collectively, the "New Senior Notes") and Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2066 (the "New Junior Subordinated Notes" and, together with the New Senior Notes, the "New Notes"), respectively, each with registration rights (collectively, the "Exchange Offers").

International | May 16 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Kazuaki Nagata Japan Times, Tokyo

A fault running under reactor 2 at the Tsuruga plant in Fukui Prefecture is active, a Nuclear Regulation Authority panel said Wednesday, effectively killing any chance the reactor will be reactivated.

Solar | BOULDER, Colo., May 16, 2013 -- BUSINESS WIRE

REC Solar, a national leader in solar electric system design and installation, today announced the completion of a 500 kilowatt community solar project in Boulder, Colorado.

Environmental, Emissions & Carbon Mgmt | May 16 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Tony Burchyns Times-Herald, Vallejo, Calif.

The city is making progress in cutting greenhouse gas pollution, but falling short of local reduction goals, a report released this week shows.

International | May 16 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Andrew Doughman Las Vegas Sun

Former Nevada Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa is leading a coalition to defeat a major piece of energy legislation pushed by NV Energy that would create a 10-year plan to divest from coal and launch a massive project to build natural gas and renewable energy plants instead.

Policy, Regulatory & Legal | WASHINGTON, May 16, 2013 -- BUSINESS WIRE

The Agriculture Energy Coalition today thanked Reps. Timothy Walz (D-Minn.), Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.), Ann Kuster, (D-N.H.), William Enyart (D-Ill.) and Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.) for introducing an amendment during the House Agriculture Committee's markup of legislation to reauthorize the Farm Bill that would provide robust mandatory funding for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs. Unfortunately the amendment was not adopted.

Fossil & Biomass | May 16 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Richard Halstead The Marin Independent Journal, Novato, Calif.

The Marin County Civil Grand Jury issued a report this week championing a landfill gas-to-energy project at Redwood Landfill and urging local officials to foster it and other projects at the landfill.

International | SHANGHAI, May 16, 2013 -- SinoCast Daily Business Beat

Shanghai Taisheng Wind Power Equipment Co., Ltd. announces that it plans to take over 51 percent equities in Nantong Blue Island Offshore Co., Ltd. so as to build a 3-10MW offshore wind turbine tower manufacturing base.

Policy, Regulatory & Legal | May 16 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Tracie Mauriello Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Army Corps of Engineers is a big step closer to resuming work on the Lower Monongahela's crumbling locks and dams after a U.S. Senate vote Wednesday reauthorizing up to $12.5 billion in water projects over the next decade.

Business & Corporate | TOPEKA, Kan., May 16, 2013 -

The Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE:WR) Board of Directors today declared a quarterly dividend of 34 cents per share payable Jul. 1, 2013, on the company's common stock. The dividends are payable to shareholders of record as of Jun. 7, 2013.