NUCLEAR: Exelon’s CEO is again pushing Illinois lawmakers to help support the utility’s nuclear plants. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

WISCONSIN: State lawmakers approve bills to relax sulfur dioxide regulations and cut funding for the state’s energy efficiency program. (Associated Press)

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SOLAR:
• Why Wisconsin’s rural co-ops are powering the state’s solar growth. (Midwest Energy News)
• A series of community workshops aims to expand residential solar in Michigan. (Midland Daily News)
• A North Dakota man says installing solar on his home is “the best money I’ve ever spent in my life.” (KVRR)

IOWA: A state regulator says blocking funding for an Iowa State University research center was “probably not the brightest decision,” but wasn’t illegal. (KCCI)

OIL AND GAS:
• Members of a North Dakota tribe have no regrets about banning fracking on their reservation. (AlterNet)
• Officials in an Ohio county formally oppose the siting of a compressor station for a proposed natural gas pipeline, saying it’s too close to homes and schools. (Toledo Blade)
• South Dakota regulators appoint a public liaison and compliance officer for the Dakota Access pipeline, both appointees have ties to the industry. (Sioux Falls Argus Leader)

COAL:
• Foresight Energy’s stock falls 26 percent after the company says it may file for bankruptcy. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
• Two utility requests for proposals could clarify future pricing for Illinois coal. (Platts)

NATURAL GAS: Developers of a proposed natural gas-fired power plant in Ohio seek permission to increase output from 799 MW to 960 MW. (Toledo Blade)

UTILITIES:
• Critics raise concerns about legislation that would change how electric rates are set in Missouri. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
• Utilities debate the pros and cons of using demand charges as a way to deal with more distributed energy on the grid. (Utility Dive)
• American Electric Power Ohio’s president is stepping down to take a new job. (Columbus Business First)

ETHANOL:
• An industry study says biofuels contributed $2.1 billion to Minnesota’s economy in 2015. (Biofuels Digest)
• A D.C. panel discussion explores whether the political strength of the ethanol industry is waning. (Radio Iowa)

GRID: Pending legislation in Illinois could lead to a major expansion in microgrid development. (Utility Dive)

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EMISSIONS: Three Nebraska cities are working to cut carbon emissions despite the Clean Power Plan delay. (NBC Nebraska)

COMMENTARY: Environmental groups and major industries agree that energy efficiency can be a boon for Ohio’s economy. (NRDC Switchboard)

Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy and is a founding editor of both Midwest Energy News and Southeast Energy News. Prior to joining Fresh Energy, he was the managing editor for online news at Minnesota Public Radio. He started his journalism career in 2002 as a copy editor for the Duluth News Tribune before spending five years at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, where he worked as a copy editor, online producer, features editor and night city editor. A Nebraska native, Ken has a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors.

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