NUCLEAR: Wisconsin lawmakers are expected to vote on a bill next week to lift the state’s moratorium on new nuclear plants. (Associated Press)
CLIMATE: Recent reports suggest Ohio may be ill-prepared for dealing with climate change impacts. (Midwest Energy News)
***SPONSORED LINK: The Grid Modernization Forum, January 19-20 in Chicago, is a focused industry conference examining the integration of renewables, energy storage, microgrids, engaging the customer, and key regulatory issues. Enter “ME-News” when registering for 10% off. ***
SOLAR:
• Duke Energy is planning to build its first utility-scale solar project in Indiana, a 17-megawatt installation at a naval base. (Inside Indiana Business)
• While community solar appears to have widespread support, experts are unclear about the model’s future. (Utility Dive)
• Analysts now see strong industry growth into the 2020s with the extension of federal tax credits. (Utility Dive)
CLEAN POWER PLAN: North Dakota officials will reach out to tribes for input on a Clean Power Plan strategy. (Bismarck Tribune)
BIOFUELS: The U.S. Navy is set to launch a fleet of ships that will be supported by more than 77 million gallons of a non-food biofuel blend. (Biofuels Digest)
KEYSTONE XL: Legal experts say TransCanada may have a decent chance at winning one or both lawsuits against the Obama administration for rejecting the Keystone XL project. (Greenwire)
RENEWABLES: There is consensus within the wind and solar industries that further tax-credit extensions are unlikely after the current ones are phased out. (Forbes)
FRACKING:
• Members of the U.S. EPA’s Science Advisory Board are raising questions about a department report on fracking from last year, calling its findings ambiguous and in need of clarification. (Bloomberg)
• Back-to-back earthquakes, believed to be linked to fracking wastewater disposal, shook Wichita, Kansas and northern Oklahoma this week. (Wichita Eagle)
***SPONSORED LINK: Join dynamic CEO Mary Powell of Green Mountain Power, renewables thought leader James Tong, Wisconsin utilities, and renewable industry experts for “Shaping the Utility of the Future,” Thursday, January 21st in Madison, Wisconsin. ***
RATES: While Nebraska’s electric rates may be among the lowest in the region, experts say they are increasing at a much faster pace than in neighboring states. (Energy Manager Today)
COMMENTARY: Plans to privatize portions of Nebraska’s public power industry should be met with skepticism. (Lincoln Journal Star)
CORRECTION: An item in Tuesday’s digest incorrectly stated FERC is calling for changes in PJM’s capacity auction. It is a MISO auction that is in dispute.