whether spending on association dues includes funds that are used for lobbying or other activities that utilities are prevented from recovering from ratepayers. The agency issued a Notice of Inquiry and has invited comments with a first deadline in February 2022. Coal-Powered Plant Retirement: Southern Company announced plans to retire more than 20,000 MW of coal-fired capacity by 2028 across its operating companies in Georgia and Alabama. The retirements were prompted by a change in EPA wastewater guidelines, and the utility expect that some of the units will be repowered with natural gas. The closures reduce the utility’s coalfired capacity by 80% from a 2007 baseline as it strives towards a net-zero carbon future by 2050. Reducing Carbon Pollution: A study from North Carolina State University finds that utility pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions could reduce overall carbon pollution by one-third from the power sector when compared with 2018 levels. The study reviewed 36 utilities operating in 43 states. Notably Duke Energy and Southern Company accounted for about 30% of the pledged emissions reductions.
Energy Efficient Transportation State, Local, and Utility Policy Updates Alabama Electric Vehicle Innovation, Workforce Development Investment: Governor Kay Ivey awarded $16.5 million to a partnership between the University of Alabama, Alabama Power, and Mercedes Benz U.S. International to build a new facility at the University of Alabama to house the Alabama Mobility and Power Initiative and support the growing electric vehicle market. Electric Vehicle Manufacturing: Li-Cycle Holdings Corporation is building a new lithium-ion battery recycling facility in Tuscaloosa near MercedesBenz U.S. International. According to Li-Cycle, the Southeast is becoming critical to the lithium-ion battery supply chain by closing the recycling gap
and supporting the operational investments made by battery manufacturers and Original Equipment Manufacturers in the region. Drive Electric Alabama Launch: On November 29, the State of Alabama launched Drive Electric Alabama, an electric vehicle education and marketing initiative, through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA). The program will raise awareness and advocate for electric vehicle adoption in Alabama. Arkansas Solar & EV Partnership: Envirotech Vehicles and Shine Solar, are partnering through an agreement under which Shine Solar will promote and sell products from Envirotech as well as purchase at least one van and one Class 4 or 5 truck for demonstrations. Envirotech provides zero-emission electric vehicles for commercial fleets, school districts, last-mile applications, colleges and universities, and public and private transportation operations. Shine Solar customers will be able to purchase zero-emission vehicle options through this agreement. Electric Transit Bus Grant: Rock Region Metro, the transit authority servicing Pulaski County, was awarded $4.9 million from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Low- or No-Emission Grant Program to purchase up to five battery electric buses and charging infrastructure. Proterra, a zero-emission bus manufacturer with a facility in Greenville, SC, will be providing the buses with a range of 345 miles. This project, an aspect of “Shock the Rock” supports the Metroplan’s larger long-range metropolitan transportation plan goals. Electric Vehicle Manufacturing: Canoo, an electric vehicle manufacturer, is building its headquarters and a low production facility for small package delivery vans in Bentonville, Arkansas and a research and development center in Fayetteville, Arkansas which will bring 545 jobs to Benton and Washington counties. This investment is part of a larger transformation of U.S. Route 412 between Arkansas and Oklahoma into an electric vehicle manufacturing and research hub. In June 2021,
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