CLEAN ENERGY: Advocates in Nebraska are directly lobbying utilities instead of state lawmakers to adopt a clean energy plan they unveiled earlier this year. (Midwest Energy News)
NUCLEAR: An analysis shows closing four struggling nuclear plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania would “leave a huge hole” in the zero-carbon capacity in grid operator PJM’s region. (Greentech Media)
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SOLAR:
• A connection between locally sourced clean energy and food is helping to drive support for solar projects in Athens, Ohio. (Midwest Energy News)
• An Indiana nonprofit promotes residential solar installations despite recent state and federal policy setbacks. (Anderson Herald Bulletin)
• A recent Illinois Commerce Commission ruling will allow electric co-op customers to receive a cash-back incentive for installing solar panels. (Southern Illinoisan)
• Residents in Ann Arbor, Michigan, continue fighting the city’s attempt to tax their solar installation. (MLive)
RENEWABLES: Dane County, Wisconsin, officials seek proposals to invest public money in private wind and solar projects. (Wisconsin State Journal)
GRID:
• The U.S. Justice Department says a Minnesota law granting in-state transmission owners a right of first refusal on grid additions is unconstitutional. (RTO Insider)
• Michigan prepares legal action against a tugboat company suspected of damaging an underwater transmission line and causing toxic chemicals to leak in the Straits of Mackinac. (MLive)
WIND:
• A report says Ohio’s four utility-scale wind projects will deliver nearly $55 million in payments to local governments and property owners by the end of the year. (Windpower Engineering & Development)
• A county zoning board in northeastern Iowa will decide today on a long-running dispute over a planned 70 megawatt wind project. (Associated Press)
UTILITIES: A group representing merchant power plant owners formally objects to potential support for FirstEnergy’s coal and nuclear plants. (Washington Examiner)
PIPELINES: Oil resumes flowing through the Line 5 pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac as Enbridge prepares to inspect damage to it. (MLive)
***SPONSORED LINK: Midwest Energy Research Consortium (M-WERC) presents an event examining the trends and key issues driving energy efficiency in Wisconsin and surrounding states. Join M-WERC, our members, partners and invited guests on Thursday, April 19th in Milwaukee to explore energy efficiency programs and technologies. Learn more and register to attend here!***
OIL AND GAS: An official with the Ohio Oil and Gas Association is named a deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy. (Columbus Business First)
COMMENTARY: Consumers Energy abandoned plans for a new large natural gas plant four years ago to pursue other options, and DTE Energy should do the same now, Michigan clean energy groups say. (Natural Resources Defense Council)