ETHANOL: The EPA announced Friday that it would set the amount of ethanol required to be blended into gasoline at a lower level than required by law, drawing pushback from industry leaders. (New York Times, Cedar Rapids Gazette)
MEANWHILE:
• The USDA plans $100 million in funding to improve infrastructure to bring ethanol to retail outlets. (Reuters)
• After fighting off a plan to sell, Minnesota farmers are increasing their investment in a cooperatively owned ethanol plant. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
***SPONSORED LINK: The Illinois Renewable Energy Conference, July 16 in Normal, Illinois, will feature plenary sessions of interest to all areas of renewable energy, plus specific breakout sessions for wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, and energy efficiency.***
GRID: Four utilities say they’re being overcharged for power moved across the southern portion of MISO’s territory. (EnergyWire)
SOLAR: How Wal-mart is helping to break open markets for generation that were once the exclusive domain of utilities. (ClimateWire)
PIPELINES: A dispute between a pipeline owner and a contractor has North Dakota landowners second-guessing signing easements for oil infrastructure projects. (Bismarck Tribune)
EFFICIENCY: Opponents of a proposed measure to require benchmarking of Kansas City buildings’ energy consumption may fight it at the state legislature. (Kansas City Business Journal)
COAL:
• In part because of tougher emission rules and the state’s coal dependence, Indiana’s electric rates are expected to rise significantly over the next five years. (South Bend Tribune)
• A Missouri town has already lost $12 million in its deal with the Prairie State Energy Campus, with no end in sight. (Hannibal Courier-Post)
• How the Chicago coal plant fight foreshadowed the debate over the Clean Power Plan. (Toledo Blade)
TRANSPORTATION: The EPA is expected to announce proposed carbon limits for heavy-duty trucks this week. (New York Times)
WASTE-TO-ENERGY: Wisconsin’s supreme court rules Green Bay officials improperly revoked a tribe’s permit for a proposed waste-to-energy facility. (Associated Press)
***SPONSORED LINK: Join the nation’s most successful women leaders in energy as they share their industry knowledge, strategies and experiences at the Leadership Conference for Women in Energy, June 2-3 in Indianapolis.***
TECHNOLOGY: An Ohio high school student’s science fair project to convert algae directly into biofuel moves to an Ohio State University laboratory. (Columbus Dispatch)
COMMENTARY:
• A conservative Illinois steel executive says “it’s hard to soar with the eagles when your wings are coated in oil.” (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
• Why “Wisconsin should be a leader” in clean energy and cutting carbon. (Wisconsin State Journal)