COAL: Ohio University gets a $2 million federal grant, and $2 million in matching funds, to help revive economies in coal-producing regions, another $22,000 goes to a technology center in Youngstown. (Columbus Dispatch, Youngstown Vindicator)
ALSO:
• Minnesota advocates say renewable energy will continue to grow in the state despite the loss of a law prohibiting the import of new coal-fired electricity. (ClimateWire)
• Executives at a gathering in southern Illinois say regulations are holding back their industry: “we would hope a Trump administration would pull the plug on the Clean Power Plan and the MATS rule.” (Carbondale Southern Illinoisan)
• A federal judge says an Illinois coal plant is emitting too much soot and orders a cleanup plan. (Associated Press)
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DEVELOPMENT: Three Minnesota sites are eyed for major efforts toward net-zero development over the coming decades. (Midwest Energy News)
ETHANOL: A University of Michigan study to be released today says ethanol is worse for climate than gasoline. (Detroit Free Press)
NUCLEAR: An Illinois lawmaker says it doesn’t appear the state can follow New York’s path in supporting nuclear plants. (Illinois News Network)
MICHIGAN: Michigan’s top regulator says state lawmakers must tackle reliability and capacity issues or the state “would be dark” in ten years. (Detroit News)
PIPELINES:
• The Iowa Utilities Board will hold an emergency meeting today to hear concerns from landowners trying to stop Dakota Access pipeline construction. (Radio Iowa)
• A federal judge will rule Sept. 9 on an injunction filed by the Standing Rock Sioux tribe to stop the Dakota Access pipeline. (Bismarck Tribune)
FRACKING: An Ohio lawmaker says a bill to introduce new fracking regulations in the state is dead for this year. (Ashtabula Star Beacon)
SOLAR:
• Michigan cooperatives propose alternatives to net metering. (Traverse City Record-Eagle)
• Construction begins on South Dakota’s largest solar project, a 1 MW array near the Pierre airport. (Pierre Capital Journal)
WIND:
• Hundreds pack a school gymnasium for a hearing on a proposed South Dakota wind farm. (Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan)
• Republican South Dakota Rep. Kristi Noem climbs a wind turbine, and says wind is “an important part of South Dakota’s diversified energy.” (Watertown Public Opinion)
GRID: Power producers are hoping a makeover of the Midwest grid operator’s capacity auction will make struggling power plants more viable. (Bloomberg)
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RENEWABLES: Companies in search of greener electricity are essentially becoming their own utilities. (New York Times)
COMMENTARY:
• In Ohio, FirstEnergy “is shamelessly making a of mockery of traditional — and fair — utility regulation.” (Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis)
• “We told you so” on higher electricity rates in Wisconsin. (Racine Journal Times)