POLITICS: Why efforts to repeal state renewable energy laws are failing. (Washington Post)

COGENERATION: A biomass fueled combined-heat-and-power facility in Minnesota is starting to turn the corner after years of being challenged by low natural gas prices. (Midwest Energy News)

***SPONSORED LINK: Learn what solar can do for you today! Join Jigar Shah, John Farrell, Frank Andorka and countless others at the Hilton Minneapolis on May 16th for a packed day of exciting networking, exhibits, training and drinks at the Midwest Solar Expo. Register today and help advance Midwest solar.***

RENEWABLES: GE plans to invest $1 billion a year in wind and solar projects. (Bloomberg)

SOLAR: A glitch in Illinois’ renewable energy standard is holding back solar development; a group in Ann Arbor, Michigan wants to add 100 kW of solar power to the city next year; and a Minnesota co-op announces a new community solar project. (Chicago Tribune, MLive, Minneapolis Star Tribune)

NUCLEAR: Climate advocates being a push to keep old nuclear plants running. (New York Times)

OIL:
• The federal agency that oversees pipeline and oil-by-rail safety is cutting staff. (InsideClimate News)
• A second illegal oil-waste dumping site is discovered in North Dakota. (Bismarck Tribune)
• Cleanup of a September pipeline spill in North Dakota is expected to cost more than $11 million. (Forum News Service)
• The Coast Guard has completed its investigation into a spill from a BP refinery into Lake Michigan. (Times of Northwest Indiana)
• A former Minnesota pollution official says he’s concerned about new pipeline plans for the state. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
• An industry gathering in South Dakota criticizes America’s “disco-era energy policy.” (Rapid City Journal)
• Oil and gas production continues to grow in Ohio. (Columbus Dispatch)

PETCOKE: Southeast Chicago residents march to protest petroleum coke storage in their neighborhoods. (Times of Northwest Indiana)

FRACKING: Some local officials in Illinois are growing impatient over delayed fracking regulations, and the drilling boom boosts electricity demand for an Ohio utility. (Carbondale Southern, Columbus Business First)

POLLUTION:  Automakers are already exceeding new federal tailpipe emission rules. (Greenwire)

UTILITIES: Amid an investigation by Ohio regulators, FirstEnergy is waiving a cold-weather surcharge for some customers; meanwhile, profits from this year’s cold winter have raised American Electric Power’s share price to an all-time high. (Columbus Business First, Columbus Dispatch)

***SPONSORED LINK: Register today ($15/individual) for the 15th Anniversary Conference of Wisconsin Interfaith Power & Light “Climate Stewardship: Sustainability, Eco-Justice and Well-Being” on May 18 in Milwaukee. Keynote, workshops, exhibits and more. Be a sponsor, $100-$1,000.***

HYDRO: A Canadian tribe is losing millions on a Manitoba Hydro project. (Winnipeg Free Press)

COMMENTARY: The Koch attack on solar power, and why trees can’t power Michigan. (New York Times, Detroit Free Press)

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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