Friday, 2 October 2026

Governor Abigail Spanberger released Virginia's latest energy plan to address growing electricity demand and pursue the Virginia Clean Economy Act's decarbonization and energy goals.

The plan keeps natural gas in a mixed portfolio of energy sources while prioritizing cleaner options such as community solar and battery storage.

Under scenarios built around Virginia Clean Economy Act benchmarks, the state needs about 1.8 GW of solar and roughly 1 GW of battery storage annually over the next two decades to meet demand.

The plan outlines a distributed flexibility approach in which data centers rely on on-site clean power and local batteries to reduce grid draw on the hottest and coldest days. It says this would remove the need for peaker plants, which run only when the grid needs extra power.

The US Department of Energy (DOE) asked industry and the public on September 18, 2026, whether surplus critical minerals and rare earth elements held at Office of Environmental Management (EM) cleanup sites should be transferred for outside use.

The stockpiles trace back to earlier government energy research and nuclear weapons production. They sit across five EM sites: Paducah in Kentucky, Portsmouth in Ohio, Oak Ridge in Tennessee, Moab in Utah, and the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS).

Stocks held at Paducah, Portsmouth and Oak Ridge have already been processed, according to the DOE. By contrast, the Moab and NNSS material would likely need additional processing before any industrial use.

Comments to the agency are due November 2.

US crude imports from Venezuela averaged 701,000 b/d in July, rising from 630,000 b/d in June, according to Argus. The monthly increase of 11% continued a ramp-up in flows.

July's volume was the highest since May 2017, according to the EIA in its latest Petroleum Supply Monthly report.

Disruption to Gulf energy infrastructure poses strategic and economic risks for India and points to the need for a more diversified and resilient energy strategy, according to a new report cited by IANS.

About 60% of India's crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports and nearly 85% of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shipments transit the Strait of Hormuz, IANS reported.

The report from India Narrative called for India to pursue alternative energy supply routes, increase reserves and expand renewable energy.

Alternative ports, pipelines, storage facilities and maritime corridors can reduce India's exposure to any single energy chokepoint, the report said.

South Africa is redesigning its electricity market and has invited public comment on two documents that could reshape how electricity is bought, sold and billed.

Public comments on the Revised Electricity Pricing Policy, 2026, and the Electricity Sector Market Transformation Position Paper, 2026, close on 28 October 2026.

The Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, tasked the Eskom Board with driving down electricity costs, improving reliability and securing the utility's long-term future, when he announced that Dr Mteto Nyati would continue as Chairman.

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema told Gulf investors to fully comply with Zambia's local procurement rules, according to Semafor Net Zero.

Hichilema used his first trip abroad since his re-election last month to deliver the message, Semafor Net Zero reported.

Zambia's mining regulations require mines to source a higher share of core goods and services locally.

UGI's approved settlement sets a USD 65 million rate adjustment to be phased in over two steps, with USD 40 million effective October 1, 2026, and USD 25 million effective October 1, 2027, according to the Times Leader.

The settlement raises the average monthly bill for a residential customer using 68.8 Ccf per month by USD 6.45, or 5.7%, with a two-step phase-in, the Times Leader reported.

UGI's residential customer charge rises from USD 16.25 to USD 20 per month under the settlement, reaching USD 19 effective October 1, 2026, and USD 20 effective October 1, 2027, according to the Times Leader.

A coalition of more than 20 states and several cities has taken the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to court over its move to scrap most greenhouse gas emissions limits on coal- and gas-fired power plants, Inside Climate News reported. The group includes North Carolina, New York, California and Pennsylvania.

The attorneys general, all Democrats, lodged the case on Oct. 1 with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, according to Inside Climate News.

They want the court to review the EPA's proposal to rescind the standards.