UTILITIES: Wisconsin regulators are expected to vote today on the proposed merger between Wisconsin Energy and Integrys. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

SOLAR: Xcel Energy’s community solar venture in Wisconsin will be considerably smaller, and possibly less lucrative for participants, than its Minnesota program. (Midwest Energy News)

***SPONSORED LINK: Join Lidija Sekaric, Michael Noble, Cory Honeyman and countless others in Minneapolis on May 13-14 for two days packed with networking, exhibits, training and drinks at theMidwest Solar Expo. Register today and help advance Midwest solar.***

OIL AND GAS:
• North Dakota’s governor signs a sweeping restructure of the state’s oil tax code. (Reuters)
• The mayor of Grand Rapids, Michigan backs off of calls for a fracking moratorium. (MLive)

NUCLEAR: Federal regulators see no environmental issues with a proposed 20-year license extension for an Ohio nuclear plant; a decision is expected this fall. (Toledo Blade)

COAL: Pollution violations at a Lansing utility’s power plants create urgency around its transition from coal. (Lansing City Pulse)

MICHIGAN: A state lawmaker says the recent Upper Peninsula energy crisis “highlights the need for a long term energy plan in our state.” (UPMatters)

MISSOURI: A proposal to slash utility rates for a Missouri aluminum manufacturer is generating political controversy. (EnergyWire)

TRANSPORTATION:
• An Ohio bill would offer tax breaks for natural gas or electric vehicles. (Columbus Business First)
• An Illinois city’s vehicle fleet is now around 80 percent powered by fuels other than gasoline. (Moline Dispatch)
• A poll finds most voters would support a 10-cent gasoline tax increase if it was spent on car infrastructure. (The Hill)

EFFICIENCY: A federal report projects energy consumption will be flat for homeowners, but will increase for businesses. (Columbus Business First)

***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.***

TECHNOLOGY: A new device could help the grid handle more intermittent sources of power. (Greentech Media)

COMMENTARY:
• DTE Energy says Michigan should be fully regulated. (Detroit News)
• A coal company’s executive pay cuts are “mostly a public-relations stunt.” (Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis)