NOTE TO READERS: Midwest Energy News is taking a break for Independence Day. The email digest will return on Monday, July 6. 

TRANSMISSION:
•  A Michigan-based company is moving forward with a transmission project connecting Pennsylvania and Ontario with a 73-mile line along the floor of Lake Erie. (Midwest Energy News)
•  Missouri regulators reject the proposed $2.2 billion Grain Belt Express, which sought to move wind energy from Kansas to Indiana. (Associated Press)

OHIO: Gov. Kasich vetoes a plan by the legislature to give power-plant owners a $72 million property-tax break, saying it needs further study. (Columbus Dispatch)

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COAL:
•  With the exception of Japan, coal plants are being retired at a steady rate in major countries around the world. (Forbes)
•  While a large Montana coal plant is profitable for now, analysts warn that retiring it may be more economical than installing pollution controls. (Associated Press)

SOLAR: Madison, Wisconsin moves closer to establishing a solar loan program for residents. (Capital Times)

PETCOKE: KCBX closed one of its two remaining petcoke storage facilities outside of Chicago on Tuesday. (CBS Chicago)

EPA: Factoring in health co-benefits as part of the economic equation for new air-pollution rules draws added scrutiny. (Greenwire)

OKLAHOMA: Oklahoma officials are hopeful that they’ve found a solution to problems with drought and earthquakes by treating produced water from oil and gas wells. (EnergyWire)

EFFICIENCY:
•  The media fallout from a residential energy-efficiency study last week misses the point, researchers say. (UtilityDive)
•  Meanwhile, analysts report that energy efficiency saved the U.S. $800 billion last year and, over the past 35 years, slashed the country’s energy intensity in half. (UtilityDive)

CLIMATE: Observers are hopeful that the wave of emission-reduction commitments from around the world this week will lead to a substantial agreement in Paris. (ClimateWire)

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UTILITY: As part of an agreement with state and federal regulators, the largest utility in Kansas would agree to refund ratepayers $10 million and decrease future rates slightly. (Associated Press)

COMMENTARY:
•  A comprehensive energy plan for Michigan introduced Wednesday by Senate Republicans is a “disappointing reversal of clean energy policies.” (NRDC Switchboard)
•  An ongoing effort to keep Minnesotans engaged on global climate negotiations. (MinnPost)
•  Instead of focusing on oil exports for energy security, Michigan lawmakers should be propping up the state’s biofuels industry. (MLive)