SOLAR: Minnesota prepares for a solar industry boom as community solar grows in the coming years. (Midwest Energy News)

CLEAN POWER PLAN:
• The U.S. EPA says it will help states that want to continue working on compliance strategies. (ClimateWire)
• Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s death means it is more likely that key EPA rules that aim to curb climate pollution will be upheld. (Climate Central)
• Kansas lawmakers advance an amendment that will block funding to study Clean Power Plan compliance. (Lawrence Journal-World)

***SPONSORED LINK: Join more than 600 innovators and decision-makers February 24-26 in Chicago for the Midwest Energy Solutions Conference. With live demonstrations, insightful panels and unparalleled networking, MES 2016 is a can’t-miss conference. Register today!***

COAL:
• Midwest advocates ask state and federal regulators to stop allowing Peabody Energy to use self-bonding for mine remediation. (Associated Press)
• Company and state officials are working to clean up a coal slurry discharge from an Illinois mine. (Southern Illinoisan)
• Some analysts say a bankruptcy filing for Peabody Energy is “highly likely.” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

RENEWABLES: Michigan utilities exceeded the state’s 10 percent renewable energy standard last year. (Crain’s Detroit Business)

NUCLEAR:
• Xcel Energy is open to decommissioning a Minnesota nuclear plant earlier than planned. (Forum News Service)
• Federal officials explore the possibility of storing nuclear waste at a site in North Dakota. (Associated Press)
• Federal regulators are concerned that a recent labor ruling could have an “adverse impact” on employees’ willingness to raise safety and compliance concerns at a Michigan nuclear plant. (MLive)

BIOENERGY: How biomass could be used to lower emissions by co-firing with coal. (Forbes)

OIL AND GAS:
• Recycling industry officials say the sector is “in a crisis” as oil prices plunge. (New York Times)
• Kansas towns see a second year of downtown following nearly a decade of boom times for the oil industry. (Associated Press)
• The Bakken oil patch is seeing an exodus of retirees. (Bismarck Tribune)

EFFICIENCY:
• Illinois ranks in the top 10 in the nation for its number of LEED-certified buildings. (Quad-City Times)
• Analysts say a proposed rule by the U.S. Department of Energy would likely lead to the phaseout of compact fluorescent lights. (E&E Daily)

*** SPONSORED LINK: Solar Powering Iowa, March 23-24 in Cedar Rapids will be packed with an energizing mix of pre-conference trainings, keynotes, breakout sessions, and networking. Register now for early bird rates (through February 17th)!***

WASTE TO ENERGY: Wisconsin advocates raise concerns about a countywide waste-to-energy program that may be leaching toxins into the groundwater. (LaCrosse Tribune)

COMMENTARY:
• A new poll shows 80 percent of millennials support transitioning to “mostly clean” or renewable energy by 2030. (Quad-City Times)
• Ohio officials must do more to decrease methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. (Toledo Blade)