UTILITIES: A survey finds utility executives are warming up to working with third-party vendors on distributed generation. (Utility Dive)
POLITICS: A new study finds people of color are less likely than whites to view climate change as a political issue. (ThinkProgress)
***SPONSORED LINK: The Advancing Renewables in the Midwest Conference, April 11-12 in Columbia, Missouri focuses on programs, policies, and projects that enhance the use of renewable energy resources in the Midwest for the economic benefit of the region. Register today!***
COAL:
• At a gathering in Florida, Dynegy’s CEO says the industry needs to evolve or “coal is going to disappear.” (SNL Energy)
• Coal’s share of the U.S. power mix has fallen behind nuclear three times this year. (Bloomberg)
• A Pennsylvania coal plant is idled in response to low power prices. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• An Illinois coal plant operating on a temporary permit and without modern pollution controls, is the subject of an environmental justice hearing in Chicago. (Midwest Energy News)
• A laid-off Illinois miner files a class action lawsuit against his former employer. (Carbondale Southern Illinoisan)
CLEAN POWER PLAN: A new study says New Mexico could see considerable health and economic benefits from complying with EPA carbon rules. (Albuquerque Journal)
SOLAR:
• Massachusetts solar firms are struggling as the state remains in limbo on solar policy. (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)
• A New Hampshire town rejects a proposed municipal solar project over cost concerns. (Concord Monitor)
WIND:
• Federal wildlife officials sign off on plans for a massive Wyoming wind farm. (Associated Press)
• A Michigan-based company is developing a new turbine-less wind system that could cut the cost of offshore wind projects in half. (Midwest Energy News)
• The Southwest Power Pool sets back-to-back records of supplying nearly 45% of its electricity from wind. (Platts)
POLICY: A judge upholds Montana regulators’ rejection of reduced payments for customers who supply wind and solar power to the grid. (Great Falls Tribune)
OIL AND GAS:
• Community and environmental groups sue over southern California regulators’ adoption of industry-friendly pollution rules. (Los Angeles Times)
• A truck carrying fracking wastewater overturns in Ohio, contaminating a nearby reservoir. (Columbus Dispatch)
• A Texas startup helps women advance in the industry. (BizWomen)
• A natural gas explosion destroys three buildings and injures nine firefighters in Seattle. (Seattle Times)
GRID: An analysis projects distributed energy storage will surpass utility-scale projects by 2020. (Greentech Media)
ELECTRIC CARS:
• Maine and Quebec will partner on an electric vehicle charging network aimed at tourists. (Portland Press Herald)
• Denver’s new building code requires garages in new single-family homes and duplexes to be built to accommodate electric vehicle charging. (Denver Post)
BIOENERGY: Low oil and gas prices are also impacting the biomass industry. (Greenwire)
COMMENTARY: Oklahoma is facing a “swift and brutal reckoning” after the shale boom. (Bloomberg)