OHIO:
• State regulators approve two modified, eight-year income-guarantee requests by AEP and FirstEnergy, saying the plan “benefits ratepayers and the public interest.” (Cleveland Plain Dealer, SNL Energy)
• Opponents pledge to appeal the decision and challenge it in federal court. (Associated Press)
• One commissioner says environmental groups have gone from “fringe” advocates in rate cases to having an influential seat at the table. (Columbus Business First)

COAL:
• An initiative planned in Illinois looks to institute a 5 percent severance tax on coal mining that would help bolster state and local budgets. (Midwest Energy News)
• A proposal for a coal waste storage site has central Illinois residents concerned about potential drinking water contamination. (WRSP-TV)

***SPONSORED LINK: Join venture capitalists, civic leaders, and industry executives to recognize cleantech innovation at the Clean Energy Trust Challenge on April 12th. The Chicago-based accelerator has grown 80+ businesses throughout the Midwest.***

SOLAR:
• Regulators approve a controversial 65-megawatt solar project in southwest Minnesota that would be the second-largest array in the state. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
• An Iowa electric co-op will begin construction within the next month on a 5.5-megawatt solar project. (The Gazette)

WIND: Residents in Michigan’s Thumb region protest a planned 150-megawatt wind project because they feel it shouldn’t have been approved following a local moratorium on new projects. (Port Huron Times Herald)

GRID: The CEO of Chicago-based ComEd wants the utility to be a leader in developing distributed energy systems, helping to bring a “third industrial revolution.” (Utility Dive)

OIL SPILL: A new analysis says 700 miles of Great Lakes shoreline are potentially vulnerable to an oil spill in the Straits of Mackinac. (MLive)

NATURAL GAS: Wisconsin regulators give verbal approval for a new 700-megawatt natural gas plant in southern Wisconsin. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

RATES: For the 12th straight year, Xcel Energy is asking Wisconsin regulators to approve a rate increase. (LaCrosse Tribune)

OIL-BY-RAIL: Minnesota lawmakers will take testimony today on a bill that seeks to increase the safety of transporting oil by rail. (KSTP-TV)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Customers line up at Tesla stores around the country to put in orders for the new Model 3, an electric car “for the masses.” (New York Times)

EFFICIENCY: Energy efficiency moves to the center stage for reducing greenhouse gas emissions as the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan is on hold. (ClimateWire)

OIL AND GAS:
• Two new reports suggest that earthquakes related to wastewater injection wells are not a problem in North Dakota. (Bismarck Tribune)
• Attorneys will hold an information session for North Dakota landowners to address their property rights amid oil and gas development. (Forum News Service)

TRANSMISSION: Kansas regulators approve a utility’s request for $25 million to upgrade its transmission infrastructure. (Topeka Capital-Journal)

***SPONSORED LINK: Join Greentech Media at Solar Summit for over two days of unrivaled networking opportunities and innovative, engaging panel sessions that will provide a unique mix of market intelligence and coordination among industry players. To get 10% off your registration, use our code: MWENERGY10***

VOLKSWAGEN SCANDAL: A senior U.S. EPA official had to recuse himself for nearly two months from taking enforcement action against the automaker because he owned one of the faulty vehicles. (Greenwire)

COMMENTARY: A carbon tax would be more effective than subsidies for renewable energy at leveling the playing field for other types of generation, particularly nuclear. (Forbes)