POLICY: Indiana lawmakers advance bills to standardize renewable energy regulations and provide financing for coal plant closures, though clean energy and consumer advocates have concerns about both bills. (Energy News Network)
POLITICS: Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan resigns after 50 years in office and amid a federal corruption investigation involving utility ComEd. (Chicago Tribune)
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UTILITIES:
• In a filing to financial regulators, FirstEnergy says it has discovered transactions dating back a decade were improperly classified, misallocated, or lacked proper documentation, though it did not provide details. (WOSU)
• FirstEnergy officials say they are taking steps to “rebuild our reputation and our brand” amid a flurry of legal and regulatory action against the company, and that it has stopped contributions to political and nonprofit advocacy groups. (E&E News, subscription; Akron Beacon Journal)
• Activist investor Carl Icahn intends to acquire a stake in FirstEnergy valued between $184 million and $920 million. (Reuters)
PIPELINES:
• Indigenous residents in northern Minnesota say state officials’ support for the Line 3 pipeline is a “perpetuation of cultural genocide.” (The Guardian)
• Enbridge is falling short of its goal for at least half of its Line 3 construction workers to be Minnesota residents as two-thirds live out of state. (Star Tribune)
• Three people are arrested in Minnesota after locking themselves to a portion of Line 3. (DL-Online)
TRANSPORTATION:
• Minnesota regulators are set to start hearings on proposed clean car standards as the state falls behind on its emission-reduction targets. (Minnesota Reformer)
• An Ohio company is developing cheaper and more durable fuel cells for use in a variety of engines and potentially heavy-duty trucks. (Columbus Dispatch)
GRID:
• A Nebraska Air Force base disconnected from the power grid and relied on its own generators to help maintain reliability and free up power for others in the Omaha area. (CNN)
• Upper Midwest power generators are designed to work in frigid conditions unlike those in Texas, experts say. (Wisconsin State Journal)
• Wisconsin utilities say they are prepared to deliver natural gas and power from various sources in the event of extreme cold weather. (Wisconsin Public Radio)
• North Dakota lawmakers advance legislation meant to improve the state’s grid reliability. (Bismarck Tribune)
CARBON CAPTURE: Biorefineries in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota are part of a partnership pursuing a large scale carbon capture and storage projects. (Sioux City Journal)
OVERSIGHT:
• Six finalists will be interviewed today for a vacant seat on the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. (Cleveland.com)
• Gov. Mike DeWine refuses to disclose the role that a top aide played in forming a nonprofit later linked to a group at the center of the HB 6 scandal. (Ohio Capital Journal)
NUCLEAR: Citizen groups raise concerns about a proposal to extend the life of a Wisconsin nuclear plant for 30 more years. (WUWM)
SOLAR: Supporters say a proposed 900-acre solar project would help Ohio diversify its electricity resources. (Marion Star)
HYDROELECTRIC: Michigan regulators urge the operator of a hydroelectric dam to speed up a dredging process to remove sediment from a river after a maintenance project. (WMUK)
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OIL & GAS: U.S. natural gas utilities set delivery records over the past week despite operational challenges at some generating plants. (S&P Global)
COMMENTARY: Minnesota lawmakers highlight power grid planning and infrastructure investments that have helped avoid grid problems like those seen in Texas. (Star Tribune)