POLICY: The results of Indiana’s busy legislative session for energy include new laws that ban local electric heat requirements and allow utilities to refinance retiring coal plant debt. (Energy News Network)
ALSO:
• Illinois lawmakers approve new utility ethics reforms but fail to reach consensus on a plan to bail out financially struggling Exelon nuclear plants ahead of a legislative deadline. (WBEZ)
• Proposed legislation in Ohio would require utility regulators to refund millions of dollars to customers who paid for charges since 2009 that were later determined to be improper by the state’s Supreme Court. (Associated Press)
***SPONSORED LINK: Vote Solar is hiring a Regional Director to lead their legislative campaigns and support their regulatory work in Michigan and Minnesota. Location flexible but preference given to applicants rooted in either state. Applications due June 7.***
TRANSMISSION: The planned Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line through southwestern Wisconsin faces multiple legal challenges from conservation groups as backers say it would help deliver more clean energy. (Wisconsin Public Radio)
RENEWABLES: Some southwestern Wisconsin residents tell state lawmakers they want more recourse against planned utility-scale wind and solar projects. (Telegraph Herald)
SOLAR:
• A planned 350 MW solar project in central Ohio would deliver more than $3 million in annual revenue to local governments, according to the developer. (Knox Pages)
• An Ohio agency receives a $100,000 federal grant to help expand a program that gives businesses free solar energy assessments. (Athens Post)
• Ohio regulators will hold a virtual public hearing next week on a proposed 144 MW solar project west of Columbus. (Daily Citizen)
PIPELINES: Minnesota pipeline activists continue to put pressure on the Line 3 pipeline replacement in Minnesota as construction is expected to ramp up this month. (WCCO, Associated Press)
COAL: Ohio utility customers continue to subsidize two Cold War-era coal plants, including one in Indiana, under the state’s power plant bailout law that’s at the center of a federal corruption investigation. (Cincinnati Enquirer)
EFFICIENCY:
• Minnesota’s updated Conservation Improvement Program expands energy efficiency incentives, including for building owners and developers looking to operate more efficient properties. (Finance & Commerce)
• The expansion, signed into law last week by Gov. Tim Walz, also aims to reduce electric bills for customers most burdened by energy costs. (Sahan Journal)
STORAGE: Minnesota State University researchers explore reusing old car batteries to store wind and solar power. (Mankato Free Press)
UTILITIES:
• Evergy files its first integrated resource plan with Kansas regulators that calls for an accelerated carbon-reduction timeline. (Topeka Capital-Journal)
• Consumers Energy begins a new rate plan that incentivizes reduced energy usage during peak demand times in the summer. (MLive)
OIL & GAS: We Energies moves closer to approval for a planned liquefied natural gas processing and storage facility in Wisconsin. (Daily Jefferson County Union)
COMMENTARY: Developers should have been more transparent with residents about plans for a utility-scale solar project in northern Indiana, an editorial board says. (South Bend Tribune)