CLIMATE: Advocates in Ohio participating in marches for science call for energy policies based on sound science and evidence and stress the importance of continued research funding to the state’s industries. (Midwest Energy News)
ILLINOIS: Major power generator Dynegy is considering what kind of presence, if any, it will continue to have in southern Illinois. (Crain’s Chicago Business)
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PIPELINES:
• Enbridge’s Line 5 represents a “new frontier” for activists: shutting down an existing pipeline rather than blocking construction of a new one. (Reuters)
• Enbridge says it has no plans to build additional pipelines in Wisconsin. (Wisconsin Gazette)
SOLAR:
• An Iowa electric cooperative dedicates the first part of what will amount to a 5.5-megawatt solar project, the largest in the state. (Radio Iowa)
• Bartholomew County in Indiana is set to see its first solar project developed. (The Republic)
WIND: Ahead of referendum votes next week on whether to allow wind projects in Michigan’s “Thumb” region to move forward, DTE Energy says in exchange for voter approval the utility will not look to develop more projects there. (Huron County View)
COAL:
• Upcoming coal plant retirements, including one in Ohio, represent a “stark change” from previous closures in that plants are bigger and newer. (E&E News)
• FirstEnergy agrees to pay $109 million to settle a dispute with two rail companies concerning long-term coal transportation contracts. (Reuters)
• Duke Energy is set to share plans for dealing with 9.1 million tons of coal ash at a former Indiana power plant. (Terre Haute Tribune Star)
EFFICIENCY: New energy laws in Michigan make it easier for school districts to finance energy efficiency projects. (UPMatters.com)
BIOFUELS: Michigan State University researchers find that farmers are largely uninterested in potentially renting their unused land for growing crops for biofuels. (Great Lakes Echo)
STORAGE: Multiple Midwest utilities file a joint request for grid operator MISO to create a model for energy storage’s place in the market. (RTO Insider)
OIL AND GAS: Residents in a neighborhood near Detroit are allowed back into their homes after a major natural gas leak forced them out. (WWJ)
TRANSPORTATION: Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb is set to sign a new budget bill that includes a 10-cent gasoline tax increase to boost road infrastructure funding. (Associated Press)
COMMENTARY:
• A Forbes contributor says regardless of President Trump’s position on climate change, a growing number of major investors recognizes the “financial risks of climate change and the opportunities in transitioning to a low carbon economy.”
• Advocates who recently installed solar-powered streetlights near Detroit say they did so in response to investor-owned utilities and bad public policy. (Detroit News)