RPS: Researchers in Michigan are fighting back against an out-of-state organization that has been publishing what critics call erroneous renewable portfolio standard reports in several states trying to influence policy. (Midwest Energy News)
SOLAR:
• In a major expansion to its commitment to solar, the Dayton administration in Minnesota looks to offset 30 percent of the power used at various state-owned facilities through community solar contracts. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
• Local officials unveil plans for two municipally owned community solar projects in Michigan’s capital region. (Lansing State Journal)
***SPONSORED LINK: Hear top executives from the area’s RTOs, utilities, transmission developers, and state regulatory agencies discuss and debate critical issues at EUCI’s Transmission Expansion in the Midwest conference November 9-10 in Indianapolis.***
CLEAN POWER PLAN: Since the final rules were announced in August, the “just say no” approach to complying has “slowly and quietly receded.” (Greenwire)
RENEWABLES: Federal regulators say 60 percent of new electricity generation this year came from renewables. (Utility Dive)
OIL AND GAS:
• A major company is staying mum on whether it plans to sell its acreage in eastern Ohio’s Utica shale. (Columbus Business First)
• Experts tell Minnesota officials that the demand for frac sand and oil-train traffic is down due to low oil prices, but they will likely rise again. (Pioneer Press)
• A major producer quits the North Dakota oil patch after posting a quarterly loss of $2.6 billion. (Reuters)
MERGERS:
• D.C. regulators agree to reconsider the proposed merger between Pepco and Chicago-based Exelon after new terms were announced. (RTO Insider)
• An exclusive letter obtained shows seven of 13 members of the D.C. Public Service Commission support the merger. (Utility Dive)
• We Energies’ parent company eliminates 2 percent of its workforce in Wisconsin and Illinois following its $9.1 billion merger with Integrys this year. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
PIPELINES:
• Enbridge and the U.S. Coast Guard will conduct an oil spill simulation next spring in the St. Clair River in Detroit for the controversial Line 5. (MLive)
• Researchers look at gas pipeline infrastructure across the country to find faulty systems leaking methane. (Chemical & Engineering News)
***SPONSORED LINK: Join the nation’s most successful women leaders in energy as they share their industry knowledge, strategies and experiences at the Leadership Conference for Women in Energy, December 7-8 in Newport Beach, California.***
ETHANOL: The federal government will spend $100 million to help install 5,000 additional ethanol fuel pumps in 21 states. (KCCI-TV)
COMMENTARY: Indiana lawmakers have “not passed a pro-ratepayer piece of legislation in over 30 years.” (Northwest Indiana Times)