ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Midwest utilities looking to develop electric vehicle charging stations are dealt another blow, this time as Missouri regulators deny Ameren the ability to pass costs to ratepayers. (Midwest Energy News)
• Rural residents who drive electric vehicles are still dealing with range anxiety and few charging stations. (Associated Press)
UTILITIES: A case involving FirstEnergy’s dispute with two rail companies over coal shipments could “force the company’s hand” on what to do about its money-losing power plant subsidiaries. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
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WIND: For Earth Day over the weekend, Xcel Energy powered two light rail lines in Minneapolis by purchasing wind generation credits for 24 hours. (WCCO)
PIPELINES:
• Authorities dropped 33 cases of mostly misdemeanor trespassing charges last month against Dakota Access pipeline protesters. (Associated Press)
• North Dakota’s Agriculture Department is warning residents about the threat of invasive species as donated firewood during pipeline protests could have been a pathway for unwanted plants and insects to enter the state. (Associated Press)
• A new film depicts the Dakota Access pipeline protests from the point of view of the “water protectors.” (Reuters)
GRID: A conference discusses ways to incentivize the enhancement of grid reliability and resilience in the PJM market, though “clear solutions seemed to remain elusive.” (RTO Insider)
BIOFUELS: Iowa lawmakers extend funding for a program that has led to investment in new pumps and equipment that offer the choice of higher ethanol and biodiesel blends to consumers. (Biofuels Digest)
OIL AND GAS:
• The industry is at odds with North Dakota over the amount of royalty payments made for oil and gas development. (Forum News Service)
• North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum signs legislation clarifying that the state doesn’t own minerals under Lake Sakakawea, which opponents say will benefit the federal government and oil companies. (Forum News Service)
NUCLEAR: A southeast Michigan nuclear plant is back online after a 33-day outage for refueling and maintenance. (Toledo Blade)
BIODIGESTERS: Farmers across the U.S. are exploring the potential to install anaerobic digesters on their property, though challenges remain. (NPR)
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COAL: A new facility that trains workers for coal mining emergencies opens in Ohio. (WTOV)
COMMENTARY: Labor officials in Toledo, Ohio representing longshoremen say public resistance toward coal, and the industry’s decline overall, is “disrupting our ability to continue our daily routine.” (Toledo Blade)