OIL & GAS: North Dakota faces a “truly unprecedented” situation as production drops off due to its relatively higher costs to produce and transport oil. (Reuters)
ALSO: Michigan has dispersed nearly $1.2 billion for conservation projects since 1976 from a natural resources trust fund that collects oil, gas and mineral lease and royalty payments. (Model D Media)
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UTILITIES:
• Wisconsin’s largest utility reports industrial power usage is down 18% since a statewide stay-home order was issued in March while total retail sales are expected to drop 5% over the next nine months. (Wisconsin State Journal)
• Alliant Energy proposes freezing electricity and natural gas rates for another year while using fuel and tax savings to cover costs associated with major wind and natural gas investments. (Wisconsin State Journal)
• Michigan consumer advocates say a surge of low-income gas and electricity customers could lose service after a statewide ban on utility shut offs ends June 1. (Michigan Radio)
NUCLEAR: The coronavirus has disrupted a scheduled outage and refueling at a DTE Energy nuclear plant in southeastern Michigan. (Toledo Blade)
COAL:
• Murray Energy creditors seek permission to sue founder Robert Murray and family members to recover $71 million in alleged excessive compensation in the years leading up to the company’s bankruptcy. (Bloomberg Law, subscription)
• Consumers Energy will soon resume demolition of an eastern Michigan coal plant following project delays last year. (MLive)
SOLAR: An Illinois community north of St. Louis will discuss plans for new regulations on residential and commercial solar projects. (Alton Telegraph)
WIND:
• A 200 MW wind project comes online in north-central Iowa. (North American Windpower)
• County officials in eastern Nebraska delay voting on a moratorium on wind development to gather more information and public input. (Sioux City Journal)
BIOFUELS: Some Illinois and Iowa lawmakers say the Trump administration is ignoring corn growers and ethanol producers in favor of the oil industry. (WHO-TV)
COMMENTARY: A Missouri editorial board says a statewide moratorium on utility shut offs would “help reduce the massive stresses” weighing on residents who are unable to work during the pandemic. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)