OHIO:
• Opponents of a rate-guarantee proposal by AEP say the plan could cost ratepayers $2.5 billion through 2024. (Columbus Business First)
• Following their past of public sparring over policy, AEP and FirstEnergy now find themselves on the same side. (Columbus Business First)
PIPELINE: South Dakota regulators will start a two-week hearing today on whether to allow Dakota Access Pipeline through the state. (Associated Press)
***SPONSORED LINK: Marking its fifth anniversary, Midwest Energy News will highlight 40 Under 40 Midwest-based leaders who are helping accelerate America’s transition to a clean energy economy. The 2015 40 Under 40 cohort will be announced on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday this week. ***
CLIMATE:
• The Archdiocese of Chicago is following the Pope’s message and replacing old equipment at parishes citywide to lower carbon emissions. (Pacific Standard)
• Scientists say U.S. public lands will be an important resource for sequestering carbon to help curb climate change. (Climate Central)
• Emission-reduction pledges announced by major countries before the Paris talks will likely fall short of needed climate action. (Associated Press)
SOLAR:
• Across the country, utilities are getting into the rooftop solar market and competing with small-scale installers. (Associated Press)
• A Minnesota farm is the first to connect to Xcel’s grid as part of the utility’s community solar program. (St. Peter Herald)
EFFICIENCY: Michigan’s state energy agency makes efficiency upgrades and adds renewables at its headquarters using PACE financing. (MLive)
ILLINOIS: A budget standoff means the electricity could be shut off at the state Capitol, an official warns. (Associated Press)
FRACKING: Experts from academia and industry issue guidelines for states dealing with fracking and earthquakes. (Associated Press)
POLLUTION: EPA officials gear up for a fight this week on Capitol Hill as the agency finalizes stricter ozone limits. (Associated Press)
RENEWABLES: A Wisconsin company forms a subsidiary to expand its renewable energy sales in Hawaii. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
VW POLLUTION CASE:
• Minnesota Volkswagen owners wait for the automaker to say how their cars can be fixed. (Minnesota Public Radio)
• The company is expected to announce today that software in the 11 million affected vehicles can up be updated “in the next few days.” (Associated Press)
COAL: A 100-year-old city power plant in Missouri is set to burn the last of its coal before switching to natural gas and wood waste. (Columbia Missourian)
***SPONSORED LINK: Hear top executives from the area’s RTOs, utilities, transmission developers, and state regulatory agencies discuss and debate critical issues at EUCI’s Transmission Expansion in the Midwest conference November 9-10 in Indianapolis.***
NUCLEAR: A $1.5 million federal grant will allow researchers at Kansas State University to better study the school’s nuclear reactor console. (Topeka Capital-Journal)
COMMENTARY:
• The Cleveland Plain Dealer says Ohio Gov. John Kasich should lift the state’s clean-energy standards freeze if the legislature doesn’t.
• Wealthy front groups are limiting the ability for governments to make meaningful progress on climate change. (Duluth News Tribune)
• Adopting a state-based Clean Power Plan compliance strategy is the right move for Michigan. (Oakland Press)