MICHIGAN: Rate increases to support the Presque Isle power plant kick in today, while local officials challenge We Energies’ request to slash the assessed value of the plant. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Associated Press)
EDITOR’S NOTE: Rate increases related to the Presque Isle plant have been delayed by a FERC decision released on Friday.
WISCONSIN: A solar group says a Wisconsin commissioner should have recused herself from voting on utility fixed charges, as state regulators approve a third utility’s request. (Bloomberg, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
ALSO: Shareholders of a Madison utility will push for a stronger commitment to clean energy. (Madison Capital Times)
OIL: A company that dumped radioactive oil field waste in an abandoned gas station would have its fine reduced from $800,000 to less than $20,000 in a deal with state regulators, and Enbridge schedules public meetings to discuss its proposed pipeline route through Minnesota. (Forum News Service)
WIND: A new study finds that for rural communities, wind farms are seen primarily as a welcome economic development — even if developers’ promises don’t completely pan out. (Midwest Energy News)
COAL:
• The U.S. Supreme Court will take up a challenge to EPA mercury rules. (New York Times)
• Chicago activists say Mayor Rahm Emanuel is taking too much credit for shutting down the city’s coal plants. (Chicago Tribune)
• The Illinois Supreme Court will hear a challenge to the FutureGen 2.0 project. (Crain’s Chicago Business)
• An investigation finds Indiana regulators are disregarding residents’ complaints about dust from a nearby coal mine. (Indianapolis Star)
• Minnesota utilities prepare to deal with coal shortages. (Forum News Service)
• Missouri advocates hope federal rules will prompt tougher oversight of coal ash in their state. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
OHIO: State lawmakers last week said it was an “absolute disgrace” that state officials didn’t release a clean energy jobs report amid legislative debate over state policies. (Columbus Dispatch)
FRAC SAND: A report finds more than 40 percent of frac sand companies operating in Wisconsin have violated state regulations. (Madison Capital Times)
EPA: Public comments on the Clean Power Plan end today, and the New York Times examines how President Obama has built his environmental legacy with the 1970 Clean Air Act. (The Hill, New York Times)
TRANSMISSION: Illinois regulators approve a portion of the Rock Island Clean Line, and an Iowa State economist says the line will help boost the wind industry in the Dakotas. (Quad-City Business Journal, Radio Iowa)
RENEWABLES: Amish farmers in Iowa embrace renewable energy. (ClimateWire)
ELECTRIC CARS: EV charging stations are being installed along historic Route 66 in Illinois. (Associated Press)
EFFICIENCY: The Detroit Zoo is recognized for its energy efficiency efforts. (CBS Detroit)
COMMENTARY: Wisconsin regulators aren’t acting in the public interest, co-ops can do more to advance local renewable energy, and David Roberts dismantles a Politico story on EPA regulations. (Madison Capital Times, CleanTechnica, Grist)
CLARIFICATION: An item in last Tuesday’s digest referred to a proposed Illinois project as an “alternative” to FutureGen; the plant would be built in addition to the FutureGen project.