SOLAR: Stakes are high in Illinois as it moves toward a 20-fold increase in solar capacity and quickly builds an industry almost from scratch. (InsideClimate News)
ALSO: Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton says a solar panel manufacturing plant opening on the Iron Range is one of the highlights of his economic development record. (Mesabi Daily News)
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EFFICIENCY: Ameren Missouri reaches an agreement with ratepayer and clean energy advocates over a scaled back energy efficiency program that delivers more immediate savings for customers. (Energy News Network)
PIPELINES:
• Oral arguments begin tomorrow before the Nebraska Supreme Court over the Keystone XL pipeline’s route through the state. (NET News)
• A northern Michigan tribal council unanimously passes a resolution opposing a tunnel in the Straits of Mackinac for the Line 5 pipeline. (Petoskey News-Review)
BIOFUELS: More than a dozen environmental groups file a petition alleging the U.S. EPA is ignoring cases of farmers plowing over prairies and wetlands to grow corn needed to satisfy a biofuel mandate. (Bloomberg)
RENEWABLES: Corporate demand for renewable energy will likely boost projects in Michigan under updated voluntary green pricing programs. (MiBiz)
COAL: An Indiana environmental group joins a lawsuit against the U.S. EPA over recent rollbacks to coal ash regulations. (WBAA)
POLITICS: The chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio discusses how to advance grid modernization and clean technology in a politically conservative state. (GreenBiz)
WIND: Some residents raise concerns over plans for a 25-turbine wind project in southwestern Illinois. (KTVI)
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GRID: We Energies buys a property in downtown Milwaukee that will host an enclosed substation in an apartment building to improve electric reliability. (Milwaukee Business Journal)
COMMENTARY:
• General Motors’ call for a national zero-emissions vehicle program could undermine state-level EV requirements and federal greenhouse gas emission standards. (Union of Concerned Scientists)
• A chemical engineer says allowing higher ethanol blends to be sold year-round will likely push more equipment repair costs onto consumers. (Forbes)