OIL: A company suspends plans to transport millions of gallons of crude oil annually through the Great Lakes by barge after spill concerns and a lack of funding. (Sault This Week)

SOLAR:
• Consumer interest is sparking community solar growth in Wisconsin. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• Hoosier Energy is building a 1 MW solar array in southern Indiana, the first of 10 planned by the company. (Washington Times Herald)

***SPONSORED LINK: You know an emerging leader — help them accelerate their career and nominate them to Midwest Energy News’ inaugural 40 under 40. Selection committee includes national and regional energy leaders from the Dept. of Energy, General Electric, Johnson Controls, Sunrun and more. Deadline Aug. 10.***

CLEAN POWER PLAN:
• The Obama administration adds a “safety valve” to allow states to exceed carbon limits under emergencies and ensure grid reliability. (EnergyWire)
• The plan has an increased focus on renewables from the initial draft at the expense of natural gas. (ClimateWire)
• The clean-energy transition is happening faster than anticipated, allowing the EPA to be more ambitious. (Washington Post)
• For states that refuse to comply with the plan, the EPA will enforce carbon trading programs instead. (ClimateWire)
• Indiana’s path to compliance would require a 28 percent cut in carbon emissions. (Indiana Public Media)

COAL:
• A new industry report details how coal can remain relevant going forward by developing new technology. (UtilityDive)
• Residents and advocates call on Illinois regulators for more scrutiny on two polluting coal plants. (Pekin Daily Times)
• A Girl Scouts troop informs an Illinois mayor on the dangers of coal-ash pollution. (State Journal-Register)

METHANE: A new scientific paper says that a device used to measure the amount of methane leaked from industrial sources may be greatly underestimating emissions. (New York Times)

KEYSTONE XL: TransCanada says it has already spent $2.4 billion on the Keystone XL pipeline, and may sue the U.S. to recover that money if the project is not approved. (Omaha World-Herald)

NATURAL GAS: A Minnesota company is seeking a rate hike on nearly 1 million of its natural gas customers to pay for new capital investments. (Minneapolis StarTribune)

OIL AND GAS:
• New restrictions on wastewater injections in Oklahoma is meant to curb the increased number of earthquakes. (Reuters)
• Geologists say the reduction in drilling activity in Kansas has resulted in fewer earthquakes. (Associated Press)

NUCLEAR: Ameren scraps plans for a second nuclear reactor in Missouri, citing shaky economics and low demand. (Power Magazine)

***SPONSORED LINK: Green Your Ride!  The Illinois Solar Energy Association is raffling a 2015 Tesla Model S! Only 2,000 tickets sold. 1 for $100, 4 for $300 www.illinoissolar.org ***

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: The long-simmering debate between manufacturers and regulators over promoting electric vehicle deployment spills into the open at a conference in Michigan. (Reuters)

COMMENTARY:
• While “laudable,” the Clean Power Plan also doesn’t go far enough. (Los Angeles Times)
• The plan “has the potential to devastate the American economy.” (Detroit News)
• Extending clean-energy tax credits is important for Iowa. (Sioux City Journal)