PIPELINES: On the eve of a state deadline to shut down the Line 5 pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac, Enbridge says it will only do so if ordered by a court. (Michigan Radio)
ALSO:
• Tribal and environmental advocates plan rallies this week to shut down Line 5 while Enbridge allies issue a report claiming the pipeline provides billions of dollars in economic benefits. (Michigan Advance)
• Tribal members in Minnesota risk arrest as they maintain protests against Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline. (Daily Climate)
***SPONSORED LINK: The 16th annual Advancing Renewables Conference will be held May 18-19 noon-5 p.m. At this virtual event, industry leaders will address current topics in energy efficiency and renewable energy. Join us at the forefront of renewable energy! http://advancingrenewables.com/ ***
SOLAR:
• A Minnesota regional planning organization seeks to expand a pilot program that provides incentives to landlords that add solar installations to affordable housing projects. (Star Tribune)
• An Iowa county will likely need a third-party consultant to review applications as a growing number of solar developers seek permits. (KCRG)
OHIO:
• State lawmakers have refunded nearly $90,000 in recent months to a political action committee of American Electric Power, which benefited from a scandal-tainted law subsidizing one of its coal plants. (Marietta Times)
• Two bills are scheduled for committee hearings that would continue to chip away at the state’s power plant bailout law by eliminating coal plant subsidies and restoring renewable energy standards. (Statehouse News Bureau)
• A top Republican House lawmaker says former House Speaker Larry Householder should remain in office as he awaits trial on federal bribery charges related to the power plant bailout law. (Statehouse News Bureau)
STORAGE: DTE Energy and Consumers Energy urge Michigan regulators to not allow energy storage resources to participate in retail and wholesale markets simultaneously. (Utility Dive)
COAL:
• WEC Energy Group’s long-term clean energy plan includes replacing a central Wisconsin coal plant with a $650 million solar project. (WAOW)
• An underground coal mine in central Illinois was evacuated last month after high carbon monoxide levels were detected. (E&E News, subscription)
WIND: Three mid-Michigan farms remain adamant that they won’t lease land to a developer for a proposed wind project. (Greenville Daily News)
UTILITIES:
• Xcel Energy files its first metrics-based performance report with Minnesota regulators that tracks data on seven key areas, including affordability, reliability and environmental performance. (Utility Dive)
• Indiana utilities are ramping up cybersecurity protections after recent incidents attacking energy infrastructure. (WTHR)
• Duke Energy officials aren’t planning additional asset sales after industry peers and the market reacted favorably to the premium the company received from the partial sale of an Indiana subsidiary. (S&P Global)
GRID: North Dakota officials break ground on a new energy training center that will train workers on various grid reliability projects. (Ripon Advance)
COMMENTARY: Iowa’s solar industry is booming and “bringing our rural economies along with it,” says a rural public policy advocate. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)