OHIO: It remains unclear how Murray Energy may have benefitted from a $100,000 contribution to a for-profit entity linked to Ohio’s power plant bailout bribery scheme. (Energy News Network)

TRANSMISSION: A federal appeals court will allow utilities seeking to build a controversial transmission line in southwestern Wisconsin to participate in a legal challenge to their permit. (Wisconsin State Journal)

***SPONSORED LINK: The ESA Annual Energy Storage Conference & Expo (#ESACon20) is a true 360-degree conference experience – gone digital. Featuring one-on-one conversations and interactions, group discussion, demos of real projects and more. Use discount code ENN2020VTL for 5% off.***

PIPELINES:
• A Michigan agency is finalizing a review of whether Enbridge violated its easement to operate the Line 5 pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac, which could unlock Gov. Whitmer’s authority to shut it down by executive action. (Michigan Advance)
• Recent upgrades to the Line 5 pipeline where it crosses a river in southeastern Michigan come as several entities and advocacy groups seek to shut down the pipeline farther north in the Straits of Mackinac. (The Voice)

SOLAR:
• U.S. commercial buildings have 145 gigawatts of untapped solar capacity potential, according to a new study by Wood Mackenzie. (Greentech Media)
• A northeastern Indiana city considers financing options and a possible expansion of a planned airport solar project. (Chronicle-Tribune)

HYDROELECTRIC: A multi-year, $800 million infrastructure upgrade is nearly complete at a pumped hydro power plant in western Michigan. (9&10 News)

NUCLEAR: A powerful storm that went through Iowa this week caused the emergency shutdown of a nuclear plant near Cedar Rapids. (Star Tribune)

UTILITIES: Despite efforts to crack down on unscrupulous power supply companies in Illinois, more than a million residential customers in a recent period collectively paid $145 million more than if they would have stayed with ComEd. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

COAL: U.S. coal production and employment took a nosedive in the second quarter as demand dropped during the pandemic. (S&P Global)

STORAGE:
• Wisconsin-based Generac has been lowering prices for its home generators that store solar power, which the company says provides more power and capacity than competitors. (Greentech Media)
• Federal regulators approve grid operator MISO’s proposal for rules regulating energy storage as a transmission asset. (RTO Insider, subscription)

***SPONSORED LINK: Register today for emPOWER20 August 26-28, emPOWER is a virtual experience with 30 sessions and 40+ hours of content designed to foster a new kind of energy leadership. Join experts across the clean energy industry in finance, policy, and technology.*** 

ADVOCACY: Heather Allen is named executive director of RENEW Wisconsin after being hired on an interim basis in March. (The Daily Reporter)

COMMENTARY: An Ohio state representative says repealing a power plant bailout law at the center of a bribery scheme opens a future that “embraces our legacy of innovation and enables us to lead the nation in the renewable energy revolution.” (Cleveland.com)

Avatar photo

Andy Balaskovitz

Andy compiles the Midwest Energy News digest and was a journalism fellow for Midwest Energy News from 2014-2020. He is managing editor of MiBiz in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and was formerly a reporter and editor at City Pulse, Lansing’s alternative newsweekly.