WIND: Ohio officials have signed off on the application for an offshore wind farm in Lake Erie, allowing a formal review of the project to begin. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

ALSO: How lack of a consistent federal policy is preventing Ohio and other states from developing stronger industries around wind energy. (American Prospect)

***SPONSORED LINK: Energy leaders — make your nominations today for the 2017 Midwest Energy News 40 Under 40. Open to nominations from all sectors involved in the Midwest’s energy transition.***

EFFICIENCY:
• Utilities and clean energy advocates in Illinois see smart thermostats as a key energy-management tool in the future. (Midwest Energy News)
• A Minnesota city is replacing nearly 2,000 streetlights with LEDs. (Mankato Free Press)

NATURAL GAS: An analysis filed with Michigan regulators says a proposal to finance a new natural gas plant in the Upper Peninsula would overcharge ratepayers by more than $372 million. (ABC 10)

UTILITIES:
• A Minnesota utility’s 100% renewable energy program is already two-thirds subscribed. (Finance & Commerce)
• Michigan regulators approve a nearly $30 million rate increase to upgrade natural gas infrastructure. (WLNS)

SOLAR:
• The mayor of Bloomington, Indiana wants the city to add 5 MW of solar capacity for municipal operations. (WBIW)
• The PJM Interconnection says it is prepared for a loss of solar generation during the eclipse later this month. (news release)

PIPELINES: Work is underway in Wisconsin to replace the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline. (WPR News)

FRAC SAND: A judge dismisses a case brought by Wisconsin landowners trying to block a frac sand mine using a novel legal approach. (La Crosse Tribune)

WASTE TO ENERGY: A Wisconsin grocery store chain is using industrial-size garbage disposals to prep food waste for use in anaerobic digesters. (Fox 6)

POLITICS: A Michigan law allowing 180 days to gather signatures for ballot measures — including proposals to ban fracking and shut down a major pipeline — could face legal challenges. (Michigan Radio)

COMMENTARY: A columnist says climate change can no longer be considered “strictly a secular or liberal issue.” (Washington Times)

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Ken Paulman

Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy and is a founding editor of both Midwest Energy News and Southeast Energy News. Prior to joining Fresh Energy, he was the managing editor for online news at Minnesota Public Radio. He started his journalism career in 2002 as a copy editor for the Duluth News Tribune before spending five years at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, where he worked as a copy editor, online producer, features editor and night city editor. A Nebraska native, Ken has a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors.

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