CLIMATE: Some utilities see an “opportunity” in pending EPA carbon rules, others are “on pins and needles.” (Los Angeles Times)

ALSO:
• How California’s cap-and-trade program helped fund a biodigester in Wisconsin. (New York Times)
• John Boehner says he’s “not qualified to debate” climate science. (ThinkProgress)
• The White House dismisses “doomsday claims” about the economic impact of carbon regulations. (The Hill)
• North Dakota officials worry about Minnesota’s cost-of-carbon recalculation. (Minnesota Watchdog)
• American Electric Power expects to shut down some coal plants as a result of new carbon rules. (Bloomberg)

***SPONSORED LINK: Tour beautiful and sustainable homes in the Twin Cities area  May 31 on the EcoMetro Sustainable Living Tour. Homes feature innovative technology that tackle the challenging combination of cold winters & hot summers with smart design choices, cutting edge building techniques, and on-site renewable energy systems.***

EFFICIENCY: While one Missouri utility is “overperforming” on energy efficiency, an agreement this week will help another of the state’s major utilities get caught up. (Midwest Energy News)

MICHIGAN: A bill in the Michigan legislature would allow fuels produced from hazardous waste to count as renewable energy. (Detroit Free Press)

NUCLEAR: The Illinois House passes a resolution aimed at helping Exelon’s nuclear plants compete. (Associated Press)

COAL: A study finds Alberta could save money over the coming decades by using renewable energy instead of coal; and the utility in Muscatine, Iowa plans to continue using coal despite tougher regulations. (Bloomberg, Muscatine Journal)

COAL ASH: A Wisconsin utility plans a $50 million expansion of coal ash facility. (Wausau Daily Herald)

ETHANOL: Industry groups criticize a study that says cutting the federal renewable fuel standard will lower overall carbon emissions. (Des Moines Register)

UTILITIES: Michigan lawmakers advance a bill requiring utilities to recalculate rates for large industrial customers. (MLive)

NORTH DAKOTA: A cow is suspected of causing a 20-barrel spill of natural gas liquids near the Little Missouri River this week. (Associated Press)

COMMENTARY: The U.S. Chamber’s dire predictions on EPA rules actually show that carbon reduction will have minimal impact on the economy. (New York Times)

Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy, and has led the project from its inception as Midwest Energy News in 2009. Prior to joining Fresh Energy, he was the managing editor for online news at Minnesota Public Radio. He started his journalism career in 2002 as a copy editor for the Duluth News Tribune before spending five years at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, where he held a variety of editing, production, and leadership roles, and played a key role in the newspaper's transition to digital-first publishing. A Nebraska native, Ken has a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree from the University of Oregon.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.