The U.S. Department of Energy plans to invest $175 million in coal plant upgrades nationwide, including a North Carolina site, as part of broader grid reliability efforts. Meanwhile, the State Board of Elections is investigating allegations of fake officials and fraud tied to voter registration drives. At the General Assembly, a House committee pressed Buncombe County leaders over DEI policies, while Asheville agreed to eliminate race-based commission criteria. In the courts, a judge dismissed Carrboro’s climate lawsuit against Duke Energy, delivering a win for the utility in the ongoing energy policy debate.