OHIO: American Electric Power and the Sierra Club go before Ohio regulators in support of a compromise plan that would guarantee income for some power plants, a ruling is expected in March. (Columbus Dispatch, Columbus Business First)
GRID:
• In response to price spikes in Illinois, federal regulators order PJM MISO to redesign parts of its capacity auction. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
• A look ahead at the other issues PJM and MISO will be dealing with in the coming year. (RTO Insider)
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WIND: Amazon is planning to build a 100 MW wind farm in northwest Ohio to help power three new data centers. (Toledo Blade)
TRANSMISSION: Why developers of a proposed wind-energy transmission line are asking Iowa to change its regulatory process. (Midwest Energy News)
SOLAR: Money from a pollution settlement funds solar panels at a Michigan historic site. (Associated Press)
COAL: An Illinois utility’s search for lower-priced coal could jeopardize local mining jobs. (Springfield State Journal-Register)
PIPELINES:
• Enbridge sues a Wisconsin county over its insurance requirement, saying it was passed “solely for political purposes.” (Wisconsin State Journal)
• Officials in an Ohio county have sent a letter to federal regulators expressing concern about a proposed gas pipeline’s proximity to public water wells. (Toledo Blade)
OIL:
• The number of drilling rigs in North Dakota has hit its lowest point since 2009. (Fargo Forum)
• North Dakota officials fail to reach an agreement with the Three Affiliated Tribes on revenue sharing. (Bismarck Tribune)
EFFICIENCY: Consumer groups praise a decision by Indiana regulators to push a utility harder on energy efficiency. (Times of Northwest Indiana)
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UTILITIES: An Iowa utility begins deploying battery-assisted boom trucks that eliminate the need for idling engines at work sites. (Cedar Valley Business)
COMMENTARY: “Bizarro” floods in Illinois and Missouri underscore the economic risks of climate change. (NRDC Switchboard)