MINNESOTA: Adovocates and lawmakers push back against a House Republican’s plan to undo many of the state’s clean energy policies. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

RENEWABLES: A Bloomberg New Energy Finance report predicts 2015 will be a “transformative year” in clean energy development. (ClimateProgress)

***SPONSORED LINK: Join venture capitalists, civic leaders, and industry executives on April 14 at the Clean Energy Challenge in Chicago to watch fourteen cleantech startups compete for $1 million in total funding.***

SOLAR:
• Missouri solar companies say policy uncertainty is limiting their ability to grow. (St. Louis Public Radio)
• A new study suggests ways for utilities to build new business models around solar power. (Utility Dive)

COAL:
• A settlement will require a Minnesota utility to cut sulfur emissions at a coal plant along the North Shore of Lake Superior. (Midwest Energy News)
• Despite differences with his own party, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder continues his push to move the state away from coal. (Battle Creek Enquirer)
• Lake Michigan fish are safer to eat, despite little change in mercury levels. (Interlochen Public Radio)
• Railroads are seeing fewer delays in coal shipments. (Platts)

MICHIGAN: While warning about capacity shortfalls, a Michigan utility won’t comment about shelved plans for a new power plant. (MLive)

FRACKING: Documents show a drilling executive sought to influence Oklahoma research into earthquakes as early as 2011. (EnergyWire)

OIL TRAINS:
• North Dakota lawmakers seek to eliminate funding for a state rail-safety program. (Associated Press)
• A Washington state shipping company sues BNSF Railway for $41 million, alleging preferential treatment of oil and coal trains damaged its business. (Columbia Basin Herald)

NUCLEAR: Operators of a Michigan nuclear plant pledge to increase transparency amid growing safety concerns. (MLive)

ILLINOIS: Operators of a southern Illinois power plant seek to slash its tax valuation, which could have a devastating impact on a nearby school district. (Carbondale Southern Illinoisan)

TRANSPORTATION: What impact does density have on carbon emissions? (Grist)

***SPONSORED LINK: Join the solar industry in Minneapolis on May 13-14 at the Midwest Solar Expo! Expand your network and meet face-to-face with key Midwest solar industry players. Register today!***

COMMENTARY: Dynegy’s CEO attacks Exelon’s plan to boost revenues for its nuclear plants. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

CORRECTION: An item in yesterday’s digest erroneously said Michigan State University will stop burning coal this year. The target is the end of next year.

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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