GRID: A White House report calls for a massive overhaul of the nation’s energy infrastructure. (Washington Post)
MISO:
• State legislators press MISO for answers on auction results that led to a spike in capacity prices for downstate Illinois. (EnergyWire)
• Exelon’s windfall from the higher prices won’t be as high as analysts projected. (Crain’s Chicago Business)
***SPONSORED LINK: EPA’s section 111(D) is driving generation and transmission in MISO. Infocast’sMISO Market Summit 2015 will bring policy-makers together with utility, IPP and DR executives to explore the opportunities to solve reliability and power market problems.***
CLEAN POWER PLAN:
• The North American Electric Reliability Corp. says a longer timeline will be needed to hit EPA carbon targets. (SNL)
• A study finds EPA carbon rules will create more than 270,000 jobs. (InsideClimate News)
OHIO: U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur says Gov. John Kasich “shouldn’t lead us backwards” on energy policy. (Toledo Blade)
OIL AND GAS:
• Oklahoma scientists say it is “very likely” that recent earthquakes were caused by oil and gas activities. (Greenwire)
• Oil field worker deaths attributed to “natural causes” may be linked to inhalation of toxic gases. (Wall Street Journal)
• Nebraska officials may decide today whether to approve a proposed injection well. (Rapid City Journal)
• A drilling company will be allowed to continue flaring after a North Dakota tribe refused an easement for a natural gas pipeline. (Bismarck Tribune)
UTILITIES:
• Utilities’ capital investments are largely responsible for increased rates in recent years. (Wall Street Journal)
• American Electric Power is increasingly likely to sell its unregulated Ohio power plants. (Columbus Dispatch)
• The Supreme Court says utilities can be sued over a 2001 spike in natural gas prices. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
TRANSMISSION: The Edison Electric Institute estimates there was more than $20 billion in new transmission investments in 2014. (SNL)
CLIMATE: A new report says capturing methane could be a low-cost way to fight climate change. (New York Times)
WASTE TO ENERGY: An Ohio landfill operator has made about $1 million in its first year of capturing and reselling methane and carbon dioxide. (Columbus Dispatch)
NUCLEAR: A study estimates plans to support Exelon’s Illinois nuclear plants will cost ratepayers $1.6 billion over five years. (Quad-City Times)
SOLAR: An Indiana town plans for a second solar farm. (Anderson Herald Bulletin)
ELECTRIC CARS: An Ohio wildlife refuge dedicates two new charging stations. (Toledo Blade)
EFFICIENCY: The U.S. House approves a bill to create a voluntary efficiency standard for commercial buildings. (The Hill)
TECHNOLOGY: Tesla is expected to announce later this month a home battery and “very large” grid-scale battery for energy storage. (Bloomberg)
***SPONSORED LINK: What is the media’s role in addressing environmental challenges? Join Ensia magazine for a conversation with journalist Marc Gunther May 20 at the University of Minnesota. Free and open to the public.***
COMMENTARY:
• Polls show broad support for clean energy in Illinois. (Huffington Post)
• How strengthening Illinois’ efficiency standard could drive billions in new investment. (The Equation)
CORRECTION: It is Wisconsin’s state legislature that is moving to cut funding for a consumer advocacy organization, not Minnesota. The state was incorrect in an item in yesterday’s digest.