SOLAR: Rural electric cooperatives – entities not often seen as being on the cutting edge of clean energy — are increasingly taking on community solar projects at the request of their members. (Midwest Energy News)
ALSO: In their recent decision allowing an increase in fixed charges, Wisconsin regulators largely embraced utilities’ arguments about fairness. (EnergyWire)
***SPONSORED LINK: Join the Energy Center of Wisconsin for a free webinar, Climate Impact and Building Resilience Strategies, on Nov. 12. Learn how extreme weather events impact the built environment and building energy performance.***
COAL: The Sierra Club says it will appeal a decision that rejected its challenge to the FutureGen 2.0 project, Peabody Energy is hoping a Republican Congress will mean a “fundamental shift” in EPA carbon rules, and Southern Illinois University’s Coal Research Center may expand its focus to study other fuels. (Jacksonville Journal Courier, St. Louis Business Journal, Carbondale Southern Illinoisan)
WISCONSIN: A recent decision by state regulators sets the stage for Wisconsin’s renewable energy program to shift to loans instead of grants in the coming years. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
OIL AND GAS:
• North Dakota landowners fight what they say is inadequate reclamation of their land following pipeline projects. (Bismarck Tribune)
• Oil production has doubled in Missouri, “but it’s a hard fight to get it.” (Associated Press)
• An annual auction nets $5 million for drilling rights on North Dakota state land. (Bismarck Tribune)
• A drilling company places its bets on natural gas rather than oil. (Columbus Business First)
• The EIA projects increasing natural gas production in Ohio. (Columbus Business First)
CARBON: A study finds three zip codes are responsible for most of Detroit’s carbon emissions. (MLive)
RENEWABLES: Ford will install wind and solar power at four U.S. dealerships, including one in Michigan. (DailyTech)
TRANSMISSION: Missouri regulators begin hearings on a wind energy transmission line. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
COMMENTARY: Veterans say Wisconsin utilities’ rate plans hold back energy independence, the public process on Illinois fracking rules “walked into a smoke-filled room and slammed the door,” and are utilities or states leaders on renewable energy? (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, NRDC Switchboard, Institute for Local Self-Reliance)