CLEAN POWER PLAN: Eighteen states, including Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota, seek to defend the Clean Power Plan in a legal action. (Greenwire)
ALSO:
• “We don’t change directions easily”: Rural co-ops discuss how to meet Clean Power Plan targets at a meeting in North Dakota. (Bismarck Tribune)
• A forum in Kansas explores the state’s options for meeting carbon targets. (Topeka Capital Journal)
***SPONSORED LINK: Hear top executives from the area’s RTOs, utilities, transmission developers, and state regulatory agencies discuss and debate critical issues at EUCI’s Transmission Expansion in the Midwest conference November 9-10 in Indianapolis.***
WIND:
• Michigan regulators say the amount of new wind contracts in the state may have peaked by 2014 due in part to the state’s renewable energy standard leveling off. (Midwest Energy News)
• A new wind project will help Michigan co-ops triple the state’s 10 percent renewable standard. (Electric Co-op Today)
COAL:
• Dynegy announces plans to retire an Illinois coal plant by 2016. (Houston Chronicle)
• Murray Energy will close an Illinois mine by the end of next year. (SNL)
• Researchers in southern Illinois are hoping to make coal power more efficient. (Carbondale Southern Illinoisan)
• Advocates will hold a hearing in Athens, Ohio on AEP’s proposal for a “bailout” for its coal plants. (Athens News)
• Manufacturers like Caterpillar are taking a hit as mining companies rely more on used equipment. (Bloomberg)
SOLAR: A Minnesota town votes to make a major investment in solar. (KSTP)
FRACKING:
• The EPA’s finding of no “widespread, systemic” impacts on drinking water from fracking is being challenged by the agency’s scientific advisers. (EnergyWire)
• A pipeline developer dismisses concerns about overbuilding capacity in Ohio. (Columbus Business First)
NUCLEAR: An industry group warns that nuclear plant closures could jeopardize climate goals. (The Hill)
UTILITIES: Michigan utilities report higher earnings as the state’s economy continues to rebound. (RTO Insider)
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TRANSMISSION: Work is expected to begin on a new Wisconsin transmission line early next year. (La Crosse Tribune)
COMMENTARY:
• Wisconsin utilities remain short-sighted on solar power. (Racine Journal Times)
• “We can no longer afford for climate change denial to be a laughing matter.” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)