ILLINOIS: Dynegy and Exelon propose reforms to Illinois’ capacity market that they believe will support investment in new and existing plants as well as ensure reliability. (EnergyWire)
SOLAR:
• The Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians has signed an agreement to install 15 megawatts of solar across the rooftops of the band’s largest buildings in northern Minnesota. (Indian Country Today)
• A Minnesota company is developing a two-megawatt solar project for a nearby electric co-op. (Electric Co-op Today)
• A nearly one-megawatt array is planned for a cemetery in southeast Michigan. (MLive)
• A South Dakota legislative committee voted down a bill that would have required regulated utilities to set standards for reimbursement rates for solar generators. (Midwest Energy News)
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PIPELINES:
• The National Wildlife Foundation is threatening to sue the federal government, claiming an agency didn’t have the authority to approve a pipeline through the Straits of Mackinac. (Associated Press)
• Advocates’ calls to shut down the Straits of Mackinac pipeline are intensifying. (Public News Service)
WIND:
• A Missouri municipal utility tables discussions with the company looking to develop a major transmission line moving wind energy from Kansas to Indiana. (Hannibal Courier-Post)
• China surpasses the U.S. as the world’s top wind turbine producer. (ClimateWire)
OHIO: FirstEnergy and AEP do not want federal regulators to intervene in the utilities’ income-guarantee requests. (Bloomberg)
ADVOCACY:
• The Ohio Environmental Council forms a new nonprofit to be directly involved with pushing state policy on clean energy and other environmental issues to lawmakers and voters. (Columbus Dispatch)
• Environmental groups prepare a large lobbying effort to get a supportive Supreme Court nominee to replace the late Antonin Scalia. (E&E Daily)
CLEAN POWER PLAN:
• More than 200 members of Congress are backing the court challenge to the federal rules. (Associated Press)
• Wildlife advocates say Indiana should move to comply with the federal rules regardless of the Supreme Court’s recent stay. (NUVO)
• The U.S. is already “racing toward” meeting the goals of the Clean Power Plan. (The Hill)
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY: Illinois-based Deere & Co. will consider a shareholder proposal today seeking to reach companywide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. (Quad-City Times)
UTILITIES:
• A Minnesota dairy farm wins a lawsuit against a utility that the courts found was negligent in allowing stray voltage limiting the farm’s production. (WCCO-TV)
• In-house meteorologists help large utilities prepare for major storm events. (EnergyWire)
BIOFUELS: Illinois researchers identify the best regions in the country where bioenergy crops could grow to minimize water use. (Biofuels Digest)
TRANSPORTATION: Racing fans push back against the EPA’s decision to reverse an exemption allowing cars to be modified for track use. (Detroit News)
COMMENTARY: Indiana Gov. Mike Pence’s opposition to clean energy development only helps his Democratic challenger for governor. (NUVO)