NUCLEAR: The Energy Department opens a public process on finding solutions for nuclear waste being stored at operating and defunct reactors around the country. (Midwest Energy News)
OHIO: State regulators are scheduled to vote on Thursday on two income-guarantee requests from FirstEnergy and AEP. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
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SOLAR:
• While Iowa’s two largest utilities file plans for more community solar and a storage project, advocates are concerned they have presented “road maps to move away from net metering in Iowa.” (Midwest Energy News)
• The Detroit City Council approves DTE Energy’s plans for a 10-acre solar project on vacant city-owned property that is expected to generate enough power for 450 homes. (MLive)
• Local officials give final approval for a 4-megawatt solar project in southwest Indiana. (Washington Times Herald)
PIPELINES: The developer of the Dakota Access pipeline may face penalties for beginning construction on the project in Iowa too early. (The Gazette)
TRANSMISSION: Last week “brought heartening new evidence” that the federal government will help in developing large-scale transmission projects to move wind energy to population centers. (Vox)
EMISSIONS:
• In southwest Detroit, on ongoing problem of harmful compounds being emitted from industrial users is plaguing neighborhood residents. (Newsweek)
• Marathon Petroleum Corp. agrees to cut back the amount of sulfur dioxide it requested to emit from its Detroit refinery following public backlash. (Detroit News)
DIVESTMENT:
• A group of Minnesota lawmakers want the state’s pension fund managers to divest from fossil fuel companies. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
• The University of Illinois student government pushes trustees to establish a policy prohibiting coal investments. (Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette)
FRACKING: A new U.S. Geological Survey report confirms that two earthquakes in Michigan last year were not caused by fracking. (MLive)
WIND: North Dakota regulators will take up a much-anticipated hearing today on whether to approve an 87-turbine wind project that opponents unsuccessfully tried to get an injunction against. (Bismarck Tribune)
OIL AND GAS:
• Mysterious deaths of oil-patch workers uncover the risks associated with federal oil field rules. (National Public Radio)
• Industry experts say federal regulators’ deference to more natural gas pipelines will result in overbuilding. (SNL)
CLIMATE:
• The probe into whether Exxon Mobil and other fossil fuel companies have misled investors and the public on climate change expands to include several more states. (Inside Climate News)
• Clean energy advocates begin a public campaign to influence the outcome of a federal court decision ahead of a major climate change case. (New York Times)
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COAL: A once-promising carbon capture and sequestration project in Canada is now in a disastrous financial situation and has failed to meet emission-reduction goals. (New York Times)
COMMENTARY: More attention — not less — should be paid to the “significance of declining energy sales.” (Forbes)