S&P Global Market Intelligence editors' picks for the best stories for the week ended Aug. 2.
1. Southern CEO ascribes Vogtle construction concerns to 'difference of opinion'
Southern Co. is sticking to its construction timeline and in-service dates for the Alvin W. Vogtle Nuclear Plant expansion in Georgia despite a skeptical report by the staff of the Georgia Public Service Commission.
2. Climate change poses new threat to US cities' long-term creditworthiness
Amid projections of increased climate-related disasters and worsening chronic issues such as flooding, U.S. cities' adaptation efforts are increasingly being looked at as a factor in creditworthiness.
3. Frac sand providers struggle for pricing power amid '100-year flood' of supply
Oil and gas producers have accumulated mountains of stockpiled frac sand over the last three years, stripping providers of their pricing leverage.
4. Peabody Energy accelerating highly active share buyback program
Peabody Energy Corp. intends to step up its share buyback program in the latter half of 2019, according to comments from company leadership July 31.
5. Centrica to sell upstream business, slash dividend as CEO announces departure
Centrica PLC is planning to sell its upstream oil and gas business in addition to its stake in the U.K.'s nuclear power plants as CEO Iain Conn prepares to leave the company in 2020.
