MINNESOTA: Gov. Mark Dayton vetoes Republican-backed budget proposals that critics say would have harmed the state’s clean energy sector. (Minnesota Public Radio)
PIPELINES:
• An environmental impact report compares alternatives for siting Enbridge’s revamped Line 3 pipeline through Minnesota, but makes no definitive recommendations. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
• The Keystone XL pipeline developer is reassessing whether oil producers in North Dakota and Montana are still interested in using the route to ship products. (Associated Press)
***SPONSORED LINK: Smart Cities Technologies in Wisconsin is taking place on June 6 in Milwaukee. Organized by the Midwest Energy Research Consortium and the City of Milwaukee, this workshop will explore how cities like Milwaukee are adopting Smart Cities Technologies. Register before June 2. ***
WIND: An Illinois senator says striking a provision on certification and training standards for wind developers from last year’s major energy legislation could spur $2 billion in additional wind development. (WTTW)
FRAC SAND: Industry officials say frac sand mining in western Wisconsin has rebounded and companies are back to running operations at peak levels. (Eau Claire Leader-Telegram)
OHIO: A new report says Ohio and FirstEnergy should begin preparing for the economic fallout that is likely to come as a result of the utility’s power plant closures. (Crain’s Cleveland Business)
SOLAR:
• A group-buying program looks to expand solar options for residents and businesses in a southwest Illinois county. (River Bender News)
• An Indiana town considers leasing city-owned property for 15 years for a solar project. (Goshen News)
• Wisconsin Public Service is hosting a “solar olympics” this week as a competition for various solar-powered products. (WSAU)
CLEAN TECH: A new report by the Brookings Institution says funding from venture capitalists for clean-tech companies “still looks pretty gloomy.” (Greentech Media)
RENEWABLES: Michigan-based Consumers Energy says it has received interest from about two dozen large companies that would participate in a tariff allowing them to increase the amount of renewable energy they consume. (MLive)
COAL: Developers of a shuttered coal plant in west Michigan aim to repurpose the site to take advantage of the area’s agriculture processing potential. (MiBiz)
NUCLEAR: The Energy Information Administration says the U.S. nuclear sector will continue to decline over the next 30 years, dropping from 20 percent of the U.S. energy mix in 2016 to 11 percent by 2050. (Utility Dive)
EFFICIENCY: Consumers Energy donates nearly $1 million worth of energy efficiency products to several historical buildings across Michigan. (MLive)
GRID: At a conference in Washington D.C., utility executives challenge the idea that digitizing the grid inherently creates a security risk. (Morning Consult)
COMMENTARY: The Columbus Dispatch says Ohio lawmakers have again missed an opportunity to increase the severance tax on oil and gas drilling that would benefit all residents in the state.