REGULATION: Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton vetoes a bill that would have removed state utility regulators’ authority to settle disputes over electric cooperatives’ distributed generation fees, saying it would have hurt progress on clean energy investments; bill supporters vow to “keep trying.” (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
COAL:
• AES subsidiary Dayton Power & Light officially announces it will close two coal plants in southern Ohio next year for economic reasons. (Reuters)
• Retired coal miners want President Trump to make good on campaign promises and protect their healthcare and pension benefits. (Ohio Valley Resource)
***SPONSORED LINK: Stay current on the newest developments in the energy economy by attending the Advancing Renewables in the Midwest Conference this coming April 24th & 25th in Columbia, MO. For registration and details: www.AdvancingRenewables.org.***
UTILITIES:
• Minnesota regulators have approved a utility’s updated 15-year integrated resource plan that calls for more investments in wind, solar and energy efficiency while also closing a coal plant within the next five years. (Midwest Energy News)
• A program started by Michigan-based Consumers Energy looks to fast-track the development of vacant properties by building a site’s energy infrastructure first. (MLive)
WIND:
• Testimony begins in Missouri on Clean Line Energy’s second attempt to win approval for a high-voltage transmission line to carry wind power from western Kansas to Indiana. (Associated Press)
• The growing wind industry will bring economic benefits to Indiana communities, advocates say. (WBOI)
PIPELINES: The Dakota Access pipeline developer says the project is on track to start moving oil this week, despite recent “attacks” that threatened “physical safety and the environment.” (Associated Press)
RELIABILITY: Major wind storms in Michigan this month, and the resulting outages, are bringing an increased focused on grid reliability there. (Crain’s Detroit Business)
EFFICIENCY: President Trump’s budget proposal to eliminate an energy efficiency grant program for low-income housing would hurt consumers. (Washington Post)
RENEWABLE ENERGY: Keeping some nuclear and fossil fuel plants online would be a more effective way to cut emissions than going 100 percent renewable, according to a new literature review. (Utility Dive)
OIL AND GAS: New state figures show shale oil production in Ohio was down in 2016 while natural gas production increased. (Columbus Dispatch)
NUCLEAR: A southeast Michigan nuclear plant will shut down for at least a month for refueling. (Toledo Blade)
***SPONSORED LINK: The 2nd Grid Modernization Forum, April 3-5 in Chicago, examines key lessons from top utilities including Eversource, Alliant Energy, Con Edison, National Grid, Ameren and many others. Enter MWEN when registering for 20% off.***
STORAGE: A growing number of experts believe energy storage is poised to take off, adding tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs to the economy and billions of dollars in revenue over the next 10 years, but it’s unclear whether the U.S. will take the lead. (E&E News)
COMMENTARY:
• A South Dakota editorial board says a company’s unsuccessful attempt to drill for oil in 2013 that could cost millions to fix “failed on every level.” (Rapid City Journal)
• Analysts with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis say Peabody Energy’s bankruptcy plan overstates the coal market and “should be cause for investor alarm.”