NUCLEAR: The presidential election results jeopardizes some key portions of a plan to keep struggling nuclear plants open in Illinois, though Exelon is showing no signs of pulling back. (Crain’s Chicago Business)
SOLAR:
• An Indiana utility brings online its fourth solar project in the past year, which together total 15 megawatts. (Fort Wayne News-Sentinel)
• A Trump presidency will not “stop the train” on solar development, one industry official predicts. (Greenwire)
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EFFICIENCY: Federal agencies are working with energy assessors to tap into the additional health benefits that come with energy efficiency upgrades in buildings. (Midwest Energy News)
POLICY: The Michigan Senate approves a sweeping two-bill energy package that includes increasing the state’s renewable energy standard to 15 percent. (Detroit News)
CLEAN ENERGY: Lawrence, Kansas plans to spend $11.4 million on clean energy projects at city-owned facilities, including solar panels and efficiency upgrades. (Lawrence Journal-World)
OIL AND GAS:
• Local residents in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula express concerns over plans to build natural gas generating facilities to replace an aging coal plant there. (Marquette Mining Journal)
• A Michigan utility says one of its sites that stores old, unused oil and gas containers near downtown Grand Rapids is not leaking contaminants into a nearby river. (MLive)
• A Nebraska railcar company could face steep fines over its handling of crude oil, ethanol and other wastes. (Associated Press)
COAL: FirstEnergy may sell its W.H. Sammis coal plant in Ohio within the next two years, company officials say. (The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register)
BIOFUELS: The U.S. EPA denies petitions from oil groups to change the country’s Renewable Fuel Standard program. (Reuters)
PIPELINES: The Dakota Access pipeline developer is not cooperating as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers asks the company to delay construction in a contested portion of the project to defuse tensions with protesters. (Bismarck Tribune)
CLIMATE: Advancing U.S. climate policy will likely come from states rather than the federal government under a Trump presidency. (Climate Central)
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TRANSPORTATION: A major trade group urges President-elect Trump’s transition team to revise fuel efficiency mandates and conduct a full-scale review of current autonomous vehicle policies. (Reuters)
COMMENTARY:
• “Renewables should be fine” under a Trump presidency, since most of the push for clean energy and financial incentives come from states and federal tax credits have been extended to 2021. (Forbes)
• How two Iowa utilities can spend $5 billion on new wind projects and end up lowering their customers’ electric rates. (Forbes)
• “Renewable energy will remain viable and will likely thrive under any presidential administration.” (Crain’s Detroit Business)