COAL: The company planning to buy Peabody Energy mines backs out of a loan deal, jeopardizing the chances of helping Peabody stave off bankruptcy. (Bloomberg)
CLEAN POWER PLAN: As advocates file briefs this week in support of the Clean Power Plan, some are urging Ohio officials to move forward with a compliance strategy. (Midwest Energy News)
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WIND:
• Citing three proposed projects in the Midwest, a national conservation group seeks tougher restrictions on siting wind farms to avoid bird deaths. (Midwest Energy News)
• A public hearing on a controversial wind project in North Dakota runs for more than 12 hours. (Bismarck Tribune)
• A previously denied South Dakota wind project may be revived. (Forum News Service)
TRANSMISSION: Customers of a Kansas utility will be refunded $14 million following a FERC ruling in a dispute over transmission charges. (Topeka Capital-Journal)
OIL AND GAS:
• The U.S. EPA announces a partnership with 41 energy companies that will voluntarily agree to reduce methane emissions. (Associated Press)
• A North Dakota-based energy company is among those 41 businesses. (Associated Press)
EFFICIENCY: Xcel Energy will spend the next six weeks replacing thousands of streetlights in western Wisconsin with LEDs. (LaCrosse Tribune)
PIPELINES:
• Tribal groups plan to protest and set up a semi-permanent camp against the Dakota Access Pipeline. (Bismarck Tribune)
• Three Kansas-based gas companies make the case for an accelerated gas-pipeline replacement program — and a way to pay for it — after finding widespread deterioration in the existing infrastructure. (Topeka Capital-Journal)
FRACKING:
• Some legal observers say environmental groups are taking an unorthodox approach in a case against the oil and gas industry and “frackquakes.” (Forbes)
• A new paper links the growing number of earthquakes in Canada to fracking. (EnergyWire)
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CLIMATE: An advocacy group is urging poor countries not to attend a ceremonial signing of the Paris climate agreement until rich countries have begun taking action. (ClimateWire)
COMMENTARY:
• When it comes to building transmission infrastructure to move renewable energy to population centers, the U.S. and China are moving at vastly different paces. (Vox)
• Minnesota officials should invite underserved populations to take part in planning a strong climate policy. (Minnesota Daily)