COAL:
• An electric cooperative plans to retire a 189-megawatt coal plant in North Dakota by May 2017 because it has become too expensive to run. (Minnesota Public Radio)
• A federal agency recognizes the “good stewardship” of an abandoned coal-mine reclamation project in western North Dakota. (Associated Press)
FINANCE: Missouri is set to become the second state with residential Property Assessed Clean Energy financing. (Midwest Energy News)
*** SPONSORED LINK: Illinois Renewable Energy Conference, July 21st in Normal, Illinois, will feature plenary sessions of interest to all areas of renewable energy, plus specific breakout sessions for wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, and energy efficiency.***
OIL AND GAS:
• Shale gas development in Ohio is leading to a “power-plant building boom.” (Columbus Dispatch)
• A $30 million lawsuit is filed in Kansas against Chesapeake Energy over allegedly conspiring to suppress oil and gas prices. (Kansas City Star)
• A public hearing is scheduled for later this month on a proposed $4.5 million oil pipeline through North Dakota. (Associated Press)
WIND: Some Indiana residents are fighting back against proposed wind projects “in inventive ways.” (Fort Wayne News-Sentinel)
NUCLEAR: An underground storage tank was found to be leaking oil on the property of a southeast Michigan nuclear plant. (Toledo Blade)
FRAC SAND: Wisconsin frac sand producers plan to invest millions of dollars in new facilities as they seek new markets for their product. (LaCrosse Tribune)
GRID: A conference last week addressed the challenges and opportunities for reforming Michigan’s Upper Peninsula’s electric grid. (Marquette Mining Journal)
SOLAR:
• For the first time, solar is on pace this year to contribute more new electricity to the U.S. grid than any other form of energy, driven mostly by large installations. (Reuters)
• A southern Illinois radio station is partnering with an electric distributor to meet 50 percent of the station’s energy needs through solar. (Southern Business Journal)
• A net-zero building in Iowa installs solar panels to power the facility. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)
***SPONSORED LINK: Now Open: Midwest Energy News 40 Under 40 award program seeks young leaders working to transition Midwest to clean energy. Make your nomination today! ***
CLIMATE: Advocates in Iowa are using Pokemon Go to lure young voters to their cause. (WHO-TV)
COMMENTARY:
• The developers of a planned oil refinery near a national park in North Dakota “appear to be taking the right approach.” (Bismarck Tribune)
• We Energies says its residential and industrial customers are seeing lower electricity prices. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)