AEP, Sierra Club join forces before Ohio regulators

OHIO: American Electric Power and the Sierra Club go before Ohio regulators in support of a compromise plan that would guarantee income for some power plants, a ruling is expected in March. (Columbus Dispatch, Columbus Business First)

GRID:
• In response to price spikes in Illinois, federal regulators order PJM MISO to redesign parts of its capacity auction. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
• A look ahead at the other issues PJM and MISO will be dealing with in the coming year. (RTO Insider)

***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. ***

WIND: Amazon is planning to build a 100 MW wind farm in northwest Ohio to help power three new data centers. (Toledo Blade)

TRANSMISSION: Why developers of a proposed wind-energy transmission line are asking Iowa to change its regulatory process. (Midwest Energy News)

SOLAR: Money from a pollution settlement funds solar panels at a Michigan historic site. (Associated Press)

COAL: An Illinois utility’s search for lower-priced coal could jeopardize local mining jobs. (Springfield State Journal-Register)

PIPELINES:
• Enbridge sues a Wisconsin county over its insurance requirement, saying it was passed ​“solely for political purposes.” (Wisconsin State Journal)
• Officials in an Ohio county have sent a letter to federal regulators expressing concern about a proposed gas pipeline’s proximity to public water wells. (Toledo Blade)

OIL:
• The number of drilling rigs in North Dakota has hit its lowest point since 2009. (Fargo Forum)
• North Dakota officials fail to reach an agreement with the Three Affiliated Tribes on revenue sharing. (Bismarck Tribune)

EFFICIENCY: Consumer groups praise a decision by Indiana regulators to push a utility harder on energy efficiency. (Times of Northwest Indiana)

***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 21^st in Madison, Wisconsin. ***

UTILITIES: An Iowa utility begins deploying battery-assisted boom trucks that eliminate the need for idling engines at work sites. (Cedar Valley Business)

COMMENTARY: ​“Bizarro” floods in Illinois and Missouri underscore the economic risks of climate change. (NRDC Switchboard)