EFFICIENCY: An Iowa college that wants to cut its energy consumption with a combined heat and power project says its utility’s rate policies are holding it back. (Midwest Energy News)
WISCONSIN: Regulators say complying with the state’s renewable energy standard caused a slight increase in utility rates in recent years. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
***SPONSORED LINK: Support Solar in Illinois – Purchase a raffle ticket to win a Tesla Model S and Bosch Home Charger from the Illinois Solar Energy Association! Only 2,000 tickets will be sold.***
COAL: The EPA agrees to study whether Minnesota’s largest coal plant is impacting haze levels at Voyageurs National Park. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
CLIMATE: President Obama describes recent carbon rule proposals as “first steps” to combat climate change. (Washington Post)
NUCLEAR: Federal regulators say a operators of a Michigan nuclear plant have failed to address concerns about the facility’s safety culture. (MLive)
OIL AND GAS:
• An Obama administration decision opens the door for U.S. crude oil exports. (Wall Street Journal)
• North Dakota regulators sign off on a pipeline to ship oil into Minnesota and Wisconsin. (Bismarck Tribune)
• Michigan’s attorney general files additional complaints over Chesapeake Energy’s land-leasing practices. (Detroit Free Press)
• North Dakota discloses information about oil train shipments. (Associated Press)
FRACKING: States with heavy drilling activity confront earthquake risks. (Associated Press)
FRAC SAND: Wisconsin regulators approve a new natural gas pipeline to serve frac sand mining operations. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
SMART GRID: A Michigan utility begins installing sensors to help reduce power outages. (Detroit Free Press)
UTILITIES: Chicago ratepayers will pay more this summer under the city’s bulk purchase program than they would have with ComEd. (Crain’s Chicago Business)
SOLAR: A Wisconsin co-op formally unveils the state’s first community solar garden. (LaCrosse Tribune)
COMMENTARY: Why carbon rules could provide a lifeline to nuclear plants. (Forbes)