SOLAR: A Wisconsin judge overturns a Public Service Commission ruling that restricts net metering in the state. It is the second time in a year a judge has sided with solar advocates over compensation. (Wisconsin Public Radio, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
MICHIGAN: The state’s “wind capital” in the eastern Lower Peninsula considers a moratorium on new wind development as local officials work on regulations. (Midwest Energy News)
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NATURAL GAS: A new Department of Energy report says transitioning to more natural gas won’t be a problem under the EPA’s Clean Power Plan. (Washington Post)
ALSO: Exponential growth in waste disposal wells in northern Oklahoma is causing more, stronger earthquakes, research shows. (EnergyWire)
ILLINOIS: The Citizens Utility Board questions Ameren’s request for a $53 million rate increase for natural gas next year. (Belleville News-Democrat)
EFFICIENCY: Minneapolis housing development is believed to be one of the largest in the country going for ‘Living Building Challenge’ certification. (Finance & Commerce)
OIL: Electric cooperatives in North Dakota study what slumping oil prices will mean for capacity as drilling slows. An oil field worker in North Dakota sues her former employer over discrimination and equal pay violations. (Bismarck Tribune, Associated Press)
CONGRESS: A Michigan Congressman outlines legislative “Architecture of Abundance,” seeks to ease pipeline permitting, train for industry jobs and increase production. Critics say it ignores a recent Department of Energy report on the success of utility-scale solar. (The Hill, CleanTechnica)
OUTAGE: Problems with a transmission line caused 13,000 customers to lose power in the Quad Cities area last night. (Quad City Times)
SMART METERS: AEP in Ohio says it under-collected fees for smart meters and asks the PUC to increase charges for nonresidential and residential customers. (Columbus Business First)
SOLAR: Duke Energy buys a majority stake in a California solar company, plans to invest $225 million in commercial solar over the next several years. (Triad Business Journal)
BIOFUEL: Feds investigate the deaths of 50,000 turkeys on a Michigan farm, which appears to be a result of contaminated feed that contained industrial waste oil intended as a component for biofuel. (MLive)
COMMENTARY: Author Naomi Klein on why low oil prices are an “extraordinary moment” for bigger change. (Grist)
CORRECTION: An item in yesterday’s newsletter should have credited the story of striking BP refinery workers to Midwest Energy News.