COAL: Robert Murray, the founder and former president and CEO of Murray Energy, has died. He was 80 years old. (Associated Press)
ALSO: Wisconsin is making progress on reducing air pollution, including cutting sulfur dioxide emissions 89% from 2002-2017. (Wisconsin Public Radio)
PIPELINES:
• An administrative law judge rules that state regulators do not have to weigh the potential climate effects of Line 5 when considering a plan to tunnel a segment of the pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac. (MLive)
• A Michigan activist files a lawsuit against the Rover pipeline’s developer alleging the company harassed advocates during construction. (MLive)
OHIO: State lawmakers delay action on repealing a power plant subsidy law until after the election, which Gov. Mike DeWine hopes will lead to action during the lame duck session. (Dayton Daily News)
EMISSIONS: Scientists at General Motors and Ford knew as early as the 1960s that car emissions caused climate change. (E&E News, subscription)
WIND:
• After a decade of planning and delays, the first Great Lakes offshore wind project near Cleveland is moving closer to reality. (InsideClimate News)
• An industry association says the pandemic could threaten $35 billion in wind energy investments and 35,000 jobs in the U.S. this year. (New York Times)
• MidAmerican idles nearly four dozen wind turbines in Iowa after two recent blade failures potentially linked to lightning strikes. (E&E News, subscription)
• Developers are in the early stages of planning a wind project in mid-Michigan. (WILX)
SOLAR:
• Michigan solar advocates raise concerns about Consumers Energy nearing its cap in a key program for residential and small commercial customers. (MiBiz)
• A planned solar project in northern Minnesota will help contribute to the Red Lake Nation achieving energy sovereignty. (Bemidji Pioneer)
• Alliant Energy plans two large solar projects spanning 900 acres in Wisconsin. (The Gazette)
OIL & GAS: North Dakota officials approve issuing $16 million in pandemic relief grants for oil companies to acquire and dispose of water used in hydraulic fracturing. (Bismarck Tribune)
RENEWABLES: American Electric Power’s president and CEO says “we are just on the precipice of a massive transformation to renewable resources.” (S&P Global)
COMMENTARY:
• CEOs at some of the largest U.S. utilities have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars of their own money to help Republicans maintain control of the U.S. Senate, an analysis finds. (Energy and Policy Institute)
• A Consumers Energy proposal under consideration by state regulators undervalues the excess electricity that solar customers would send back to the grid, critics say. (Crain’s Detroit Business)
• Illinois lawmakers should revisit clean energy policy in the state’s upcoming veto sessions, an editorial board says. (Chicago Sun-Times)