NATURAL GAS: Clean energy groups are scrutinizing separate plans to build natural gas-powered plants in Michigan to replace coal, pushing utilities to consider the potential of renewables and energy efficiency. (Midwest Energy News)

CLEAN ENERGY: How evolving grid technology, as well as new and existing state policies, have contributed to clean energy job growth in Illinois (video). (Midwest Energy News)

***SPONSORED LINK: Dream of Driving Electric? The Illinois Solar Energy Association is raffling a 2017 Tesla Model X! Only 2,500 tickets sold. 1 for $100, 4 for $300. store.illinoissolar.org ***

PIPELINES:
• Minnesota regulators release the final environmental review of Enbridge’s plan to replace its Line 3 pipeline, which analyzes environmental and social costs and contrasts several potential routes. (Minnesota Public Radio)
• North Dakota regulators reschedule a public hearing on whether the developer of the Dakota Access pipeline violated state rules during construction. (Associated Press)

SOLAR:
• Developers and government officials in Minnesota are turning to contaminated brownfield properties as sites for solar projects. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
• A solar project expected to be completed by the end of the year at Michigan State University will cover 5,000 parking spaces on campus. (Michigan Radio)
• Officials in Traverse City, Michigan approve a green tariff rate to buy solar energy and help meet municipal renewable energy goals. (Traverse City Record Eagle)

COAL: Politicians and coal producers in the Illinois Basin criticize calls to subsidize Appalachian coal. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

RENEWABLES: Commonwealth Edison files tariff changes with Illinois regulators that would help develop community solar and other renewable energy projects. (Utility Dive)

WIND:
• It’s still uncertain whether increased setback distances will sink a proposed wind project in South Dakota. (Watertown Public Opinion)
• Negotiations will continue over planned payments between two companies for wind energy generated in South Dakota. (Watertown Public Opinion)

OIL AND GAS: A federal judge rules that drilling can continue at least temporarily at a controversial oil site near a lake in North Dakota. (Bismarck Tribune)

NUCLEAR: The operator of a nuclear plant in southwest Michigan submits plans to federal regulators over potential, albeit unlikely, vulnerabilities to the facility. (MLive)

BIOFUELS:
• At a major industry conference in Nebraska, Gov. Pete Ricketts touts the benefits of higher ethanol blends for the state’s agriculture sector. (Omaha World-Herald)
• An Iowa company helps open the first large-scale corn ethanol production plant in Brazil. (Radio Iowa)

***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.***

COMMENTARY: Executives at an energy storage company say the U.S. market could grow by $11 billion over the next five years as more utilities get involved. (Utility Dive)

CORRECTION: Due to an editing error a sponsored link in Thursday’s digest listed an incorrect date for the MW Energy Storage Summit. The event takes place on September 15.

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.

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