COAL:
• Opponents continue to challenge a scandal-plagued coal gasification plant in Indiana, saying a recent settlement agreement doesn’t go far enough to protect ratepayers. (Midwest Energy News)
• Illinois researchers say they’ve found a promising solution to the coal industry’s struggles: converting it into methane gas. (WPSD-TV)

NUCLEAR: A bill to lift Wisconsin’s moratorium on new nuclear plants heads to Gov. Scott Walker’s desk. (Wisconsin Radio Network)

***SPONSORED LINK: Join more than 600 innovators and decision-makers February 24-26 in Chicago for the Midwest Energy Solutions Conference. With live demonstrations, insightful panels and unparalleled networking, MES 2016 is a can’t-miss conference. Register today!***

CLEAN POWER PLAN:
• Michigan announces that it will suspend work on a Clean Power Plan compliance strategy following last week’s Supreme Court ruling, though the administration says it is still committed to clean energy. (Midwest Energy News)
• A Minnesota agency launches a website with information about the federal rules and the state’s compliance strategy. (Midwest Energy News)
• State officials who had been mulling the future of the rules are left “reeling and uncertain” following the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. (ClimateWire)
• But one legal scholar says Scalia’s death means the odds of the rules surviving the court process “have gone up significantly.” (EnergyWire)

CLEAN ENERGY: A bipartisan group of 17 governors — including those from Michigan, Iowa and Minnesota — sign an accord committing their states to clean energy and clean transportation solutions. (West Central Tribune)

OHIO:
• A statewide hospital association says Ohio regulators should approve AEP’s income-guarantee request because it’s a “reasonable balance of competing interests.” (Columbus Business First)
• A bulk power-buying group representing 11 Ohio communities files an objection with federal regulators against FirstEnergy’s “bailout” request. (Toledo Blade)

TRANSMISSION: Ameren plans to spend $6 million on new technology at an Illinois substation to increase reliability and decrease outage times. (Bloomington Pantagraph)

SOLAR: Two utility-scale solar projects in Wisconsin are up for local consideration. (Chippewa Herald)

UTILITIES: A new report on the industry shows utilities realize their business models need to change, but what it will look like and how they get there is still up for debate. (Utility Dive)

OIL AND GAS:
• Opponents want Iowa regulators to hear evidence that a major pipeline project passing through the state would not benefit Iowans. (Associated Press)
• Hearings continue on a controversial plan by a metro Detroit church to allow oil drilling on its property. (WXYZ-TV)

EMISSIONS: New research says the U.S. alone may be responsible for 30 percent to 60 percent of the global growth in methane emissions since 2002, potentially linked to the rise in oil and gas drilling. (Climate Central)

*** SPONSORED LINK: Solar Powering Iowa, March 23-24 in Cedar Rapids will be packed with an energizing mix of pre-conference trainings, keynotes, breakout sessions, and networking. Register now for early bird rates (through February 17th)!***

TRANSPORTATION: Officials in Des Moines, Iowa look at new ways to regulate bicycles that are assisted by electric power. (WHO-TV)

COMMENTARY: While it may take some time for the courts to settle the legality of the Clean Power Plan, “North Dakota can’t afford to delay its work on a plan for long.” (Bismarck Tribune)