NUCLEAR: Illinois lawmakers introduce a bill to help Exelon’s nuclear plants, which a consumer group says will cost ratepayers around $300 million a year. (Chicago Tribune)

SOLAR: A Missouri study, like others before it, finds net metering benefits all utility customers regardless of whether they have solar panels. (Midwest Energy News)

***SPONSORED LINK: This is the last week to pre-register for the CERTs 2015 Conference: Community-Driven Clean Energy on March 10-11 in St. Cloud. Join hundreds of Minnesotans to help build our clean energy future! ***

MICHIGAN: Utilities say Michigan’s energy choice law complicates efforts to deal with a projected capacity shortfall (more on the shortfall here). (MLive, Midwest Energy News archive)

EPA: Gina McCarthy reminds Congress that there are tools to deal with reliability issues that may arise under the Clean Power Plan. (ClimateWire)

MORE SOLAR: A township board may pose a roadblock to plans for a solar array at Ann Arbor’s airport, and Google invests another $300 million in solar. (MLive, Bloomberg)

WISCONSIN: A new report finds clean energy companies in Wisconsin are pressing forward despite an unfavorable political climate in the state. (Madison Capital Times)

ETHANOL: A pair of U.S. Senators introduces a bill to repeal part of the Renewable Fuel Standard. (The Hill)

OIL AND GAS: The drilling slowdown starts to hit service companies in Ohio, and North Dakota lawmakers approve a revised bill to send funding to Oil Patch communities. (Canton Repository, Bismarck Tribune)

COAL: North Dakota’s coal production increased 4 percent last year. (Associated Press)

UTILITIES: Despite low turnout at public meetings, Wisconsin regulators are getting a lot of feedback on the proposed Wisconsin Energy/Integrys merger. (Green Bay Press-Gazette)

EFFICIENCY: Wisconsin companies are recognized for their energy efficiency work. (Appleton Post-Crescent)

***SPONSORED LINK: Join Wind on the Wires March 19 for the “Energizing the Future” gala featuring former FERC Chair Jon Wellinghoff & former Congressman Bob Inglis. Reduced rates for NGOs.***

CLIMATE: Sen. James Inhofe attempts to disprove climate science by throwing a snowball on the Senate floor and proclaiming “it’s very, very cold out.” (The Hill)

COMMENTARY: Why Republican candidates shouldn’t mock clean energy in 2016. (New Republic)

Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy and is a founding editor of both Midwest Energy News and Southeast Energy News. 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 worked as a copy editor, online producer, features editor and night city editor. 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. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors.

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