UTILITIES: Xcel Energy, which serves both Minnesota and North Dakota, seeks to separate resource decisions for the two states. (Electric Light & Power)
EFFICIENCY: After significantly scaling back its efficiency efforts, an Ohio utility is moving forward with a new plan that includes key changes sought by advocates. (Midwest Energy News)
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NATURAL GAS: Two more gas-fired power plants are proposed in Ohio, making a total of 10 currently under development. (Columbus Business First)
SOLAR: A 7 MW solar project on a former Superfund site in Indiana is now online. (Inside Indiana Business)
TRANSMISSION: Opponents of a wind energy transmission line in Iowa are emboldened by developers’ withdrawal of a permit application, but expect the fight to continue. (Grundy Register)
NUCLEAR: The Cook nuclear plant in Michigan is back online after a refueling outage and problems with backup generators. (Associated Press)
PIPELINES:
• How the mood has changed at the Dakota Access Pipeline protest camp in North Dakota. (NPR)
• A federal grand jury is looking into a violent November clash between pipeline opponents and officers in North Dakota, in which protesters say a woman was injured by a grenade thrown by police. (Associated Press)
• North Dakota regulators fine a company $7,500 for being unable to locate underground pipelines. (Bismarck Tribune)
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CLIMATE: A small group of Republicans are trying to refute the idea that the GOP consistently denies climate change. (The Atlantic)
COMMENTARY:
• Ohio Gov. John Kasich remains consistent in his priorities, which is upsetting fossil fuel backers. (Athens News)
• Why advocates in Madison, Wisconsin give their local utility a D+. (Capital Times)
• Efficiency should be a larger part of Indiana’s energy conversation, to “appeal to our hardheaded Hoosier business sense.” (Journal Gazette)
• A recent Ohio decision is a mixed bag for clean energy. (Environmental Defense Fund)
• Why federal policy is still critical for decarbonizing the economy. (Vox)