The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission denied a group of legislators’ request to intervene in a case involving new generation and energy storage assets for the state’s largest utility. The legislators also asked the regulators to reconsider a final order issued in the case. The legislators argued that the Public Service Company of New Mexico was violating the Energy Transition Act by not locating 130 megawatts of new resources within the Central Consolidated School District. However, the PRC denied the request to intervene because it came after a decision had already been made in the case.

Polk Township’s Board of Supervisors pulled the plug on Samsung’s controversial 472-acre solar project on Tuesday night. For Michael McMurtry, the decision means everything. It gave him his home back. The project would’ve bordered his property on three sides. “So, it was important for us as a family to have this project denied, so that this wouldn’t become our sight view for years to come,” said McMurtry. Residents from Polk and Chestnuthill townships have fought since July 2023 to convince Polk Township supervisors to deny Samsung Solar Energy and its satellite company, Effort Solar’s, conditional use application for aMonroe County solar farm. The farm would’ve covered about 200 acres in Polk, the other half in Chestnuthill. However, Chestnuthill Township’s supervisors unanimously voted for an ordinance that prevented the developer from building on the proposed project site in October 2023. Despite the board essentially denying the project, Samsung didn’t withdraw Chestnuthill from its plans. Project manager Chris Simmons stated Samsung’s position on Chestnuthill at a hearing in March 2024.

A battery storage project proposed in Coolidge received rejection from the City Council and community members. On May 28, the council considered a conditional use permit request for a battery energy storage system for utilities. Energy would be downloaded into the batteries and pulled out for use as necessary...This project was denied by the Planning and Zoning Commission on April 10 in a 3-2 vote, with many audience members voicing their thoughts and concerns against the project...The project was denied by the council in a 6-1 vote with Councilmember Eric Daniels being the only one in favor.

The Washington Co., Va. Planning Commission hosted a public hearing Monday regarding a permit application submitted by Catalyst Energy to develop its Wolf Hills Solar Project in the county. The 1,800 to 2,200-acre solar energy project has been in discussion for months, with area residents gathering at several meetings to discuss their opposition to the project. The planning commission highlighted a recent traffic analysis that was conducted, the environmental impact the project would have and the area of the proposed land that butts against a residential neighborhood. After hearing public comment, the planning commission ultimately voted to not approve the permit.

An application to develop a solar farm covering nearly 14 football pitches within the New Forest National Park has been turned down. Environment Project Management UK Ltd aimed to install over 12,000 solar panels and two substations on a 9.85-hectare site at Thornlands Farm, Netley Marsh. The project aimed to generate approximately 6MW of renewable energy, sufficient to power 2,450 homes annually. Despite the proposed benefits, the New Forest National Park Authority (NPA) planning committee refused the application. The decision was based on the proposal conflicting with national policies governing development within national parks.

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has refused approval to award procurement of the 484 MW wind power plant in Mannar and Pooneryn to Adani Green Energy SL Ltd. (AGESL), saying the information submitted to it by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) was not adequate to assess least cost and technical compatibility.

Nearly five square miles of land in Fulton County have become a new no-no zone for solar development. Johnstown city councilors on Monday voted to prohibit commercial solar arrays as recommended by planning officials. “There were just a lot of questions that we didn’t necessarily have the answers to and so we weren’t comfortable with them,” said City Engineer Christopher Vose. The decision, packaged among a spate of zoning changes, comes as Mohawk Valley community officials raise concerns over the long-term impacts of solar farms popping up across the region....“We have a lot of solar farms [in Fulton County] and we just felt that’s just not something we need right now when we need more green space and more housing,” said the Republican mayor. “That isn’t something that should trump any of those things.”

The joint meeting at the Sussex Elementary School Gymnasium on June 3 drew a substantial number of citizens and local leaders, both in favor of and opposed to the controversial proposed Blackwater Solar LLC Rezoning, Conditional use Permit, and Siting Agreement. Feelings had been running high for some time in both directions prior to the 6 p.m. meeting, and both the Planning Commission segment of the meeting, led by Chairwoman Massenburg and the Board of Supervisors portion, led by Board Chair Wayne jones, strictly adhered to a detailed agenda. During the meeting, which ran in excess of five hours, lengthy statements were heard from proponents of both sides of the issue which united those who argued that the site and time were inappropriate for the rural community opposite of those hoping to be able to use the promised nearly $200 million in revenue and $17 million in siting agreement revenue to Sussex county...Supervisor Fly opposed the closed session, the voting proceeded, and the result was denial of the approval for the siting plan 5 – 2, effectively shutting down any progress on the solar project.

A 2,200-acre solar farm that has been sought by Entergy Louisiana and its large industrial customers for more than two years in St. James Parish failed to win local land use approval Tuesday. After more than a two and a half hours of public comment and the reading of letters from residents, solar developers, Entergy and regional economic development groups, the Parish Council voted down the St. James Solar proposal, 4-3...They also argued that solar project deviates from the parish land use plan and the council should follow the recommendation of its Planning Commission. In late April, the commission voted, 8-1, against the solar farm. Some opponents, like Vacherie resident Myra Simon, objected to using the common term for the facility, a "solar farm," arguing they weren't agricultural uses that the name implies but industrial operations that belonged in industrial or commercial uses. The project needed a special exception from the area's agricultural and residential land use designations, which don't allow solar farms, and a handful of variances where land buffers did not meet the minimum requirements of the ordinance.

For the second time, McLean County commissioners have denied a zoning permit for a proposed wind farm. In April, all three commissioners denied the permit for the Discovery Wind Farm citing impacts to roads, wildlife and residents. Apex Clean Energy and landowners appealed that decision and spoke Tuesday at a nearly four-hour public hearing asking commissioners to reconsider. Landowners packed the McLean County Courthouse to voice their opinions on the proposed 94-turbine Discovery Wind Farm that would be placed near Washburn...Opponents say the turbines would harm wildlife; the construction would destroy the roads, impact agriculture and airport operations; and the structures would create an unpleasant atmosphere for the residents who live nearby. They also say many of the landowners who have already signed on to the project don’t live in the county anymore.