WIND: Ohio regulators rule that an offshore wind project in Lake Erie can move forward under a condition that turbines not run at night for eight months a year, which the developer says “may well be fatal to the entire project.” (Energy News Network)
PIPELINES:
• Wisconsin landowners and environmental groups seek to stop Enbridge from using eminent domain to reroute the Line 5 pipeline around the Bad River Reservation. (Wisconsin State Journal)
• The first U.S. section of the Keystone XL pipeline is completed in northern Montana while the developer prepares labor camps in South Dakota. (Associated Press)
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SOLAR:
• Illinois solar backers are making a last ditch legislative effort to get more time to spend about $200 million collected for solar projects before it is refunded to ratepayers. (Energy News Network)
• Amazon plans to build two solar projects in Ohio totaling 280 MW as part of the company’s climate goals. (Greentech Media)
• A southeastern Minnesota county lifts a moratorium on solar garden projects after adopting new regulations for setback distances. (Le Sueur County News)
• A northern Ohio city expects to save tens of thousands of dollars in power costs through a new solar power agreement. (Mansfield News Journal)
• Developers begin work on solar installations at six Ohio school districts. (Solar Power World)
COAL: Murray Energy defaults on its $440 million bankruptcy financing package, complicating the company’s recovery as it seeks support from lenders. (Wall Street Journal, subscription)
CLEAN ENERGY: Some clean energy supporters say U.S. House Democrats’ $3 trillion stimulus bill ignores the industry’s effort to secure federal aid. (Politico)
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UTILITIES:
• Iowa regulators will allow utility disconnections to resume May 28 with exceptions for customers in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)
• Ameren expects to be an early adopter as a Federal Communications Commission ruling clears the way for utilities to build networks that enable grid modernization. (Utility Dive)
COMMENTARY:
• An Ohio editorial board harshly criticizes the stock buyback program of the former FirstEnergy subsidiary that received bailouts for its coal and nuclear plants. (Cleveland.com)
• Arch Coal’s rebranding as Arch Resources with a renewed focus on metallurgical coal is part of the company’s “quest to carve out a new life after death,” a columnist writes. (Bloomberg)
• The pending closure of a large North Dakota coal plant is driven by market forces beyond the control of the Trump administration despite its efforts to boost the industry, a columnist says. (Inforum)