SOLAR: Kansas regulators reject Evergy’s attempt to impose new fees on solar customers, saying issues involving potential cross-subsidization should be addressed in a later rate case. (Topeka Capital-Journal)

ALSO:
• Clean energy advocates sue Wisconsin regulators over third-party financing policies they argue are stifling renewable energy development. (Wisconsin State Journal)
• Local officials in northwestern Michigan will take more time to consider loosening regulations on ground-mounted solar projects. (Traverse City Record-Eagle)

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FINANCE: The latest version of the Clean Energy Jobs Act in Illinois would follow more than a dozen states by creating a green bank to help finance clean energy investments. (Energy News Network)

UTILITIES:
• Critics raise concerns about investor Carl Icahn’s plan to acquire a significant stake in FirstEnergy and what it would mean for the company’s clean energy and grid investments. (Energy News Network)
• An analysis shows that 35 out of 51 U.S. utility holding companies now have “aggressive” goals for decarbonizing their portfolio and reaching net zero emissions. (S&P Global)

EFFICIENCY: Lobbying groups representing home builders and gas utilities are fighting to limit cities’ say in approving model building energy codes. (HuffPost)

TRANSMISSION: The Missouri House votes to ban the use of eminent domain to build the Grain Belt Express transmission line through the state. (Associated Press)

COAL:
• Duke Energy plans to close its Gallagher coal plant in Indiana more than a year early. (WFYI)
• Two North Dakota counties enact drastic restrictions on wind energy in an attempt to save coal mining jobs. (NPR)

GRID: A University of Minnesota researcher says the state’s grid is better prepared to handle extreme cold weather than Texas, though vulnerabilities remain as more renewables come online. (MinnPost)

OIL & GAS: Iowa regulators will meet with utilities next month to decide whether companies can take more time to recoup costs following natural gas price spikes to soften the effect on consumers. (Des Moines Register)

PIPELINES: U.S. Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, who is in favor of shutting down the Line 5 pipeline, will lead a Senate panel charged with overseeing pipeline regulators. (Michigan Advance)

POLICY: Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm is confirmed as the Biden administration’s energy secretary. (Reuters)

BIOGAS: A Lincoln, Nebraska facility is converting renewable natural gas into vehicle fuel. (KETV)

COMMENTARY: A former Iowa regulator and state lawmaker says renewable energy will play an increasing role in bolstering the state’s grid reliability. (Des Moines Register)