Clean Power Plan to feature a higher renewable target than originally planned

CLEAN POWER PLAN:
• President Obama’s climate plan to be announced today comes with stronger emission reductions than previously planned. (Washington Post)
• A surge in renewables has the administration setting a higher target than originally planned: 28 percent by 2030. (Climate Central)
• The plan will likely help shape the 2016 presidential race. (Los Angeles Times)
• Hundreds of businesses — small and large — write to governors in 29 states in support of the plan. (Associated Press)
• Energy efficiency is removed as one of the four building blocks for compliance, though states will not be limited in using it as part of their plans. (Greenwire)
• Internal debate over the design of the final rule caused tension among officials leading up to today’s announcement. (Washington Post)

ALSO: A recent study shows the CPP would eventually reduce utility bills for Iowa customers. (Radio Iowa)

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UTILITIES: In what’s believed to be an ​“unprecedented” transaction, a group of Minnesota co-ops has bought out an investor-owned utility’s assets in their territory. (Midwest Energy News)

COAL: An influential physician who set off a grassroots movement to protect coal miners from black lung disease has died at 87. (New York Times)

SOLAR: Construction is underway on a 21-acre solar farm at the University of Illinois. (Associated Press)

INCENTIVES: Some federal lawmakers use the crude oil export ban as a bargaining chip to extend wind and solar tax credits. (E&E Daily)

RECYCLING: An Ann Arbor, Michigan-based company specializing in recycling kitchen waste oil for biofuel and feedstock is expanding into Detroit. (Model D Media)

COMMENTARY:
• As Iowa’s largest utility transitions to more clean-energy sources, the state ​“still needs coal.” (Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier)
• Civil rights group: Ohio families are more concerned about higher energy prices than climate change. (News-Messenger)
• Michigan’s ​“burgeoning” solar industry is poised to help the state comply with the Clean Power Plan. (MLive)
• FirstEnergy CEO: Ohio is losing its energy independence by being forced to import more electricity. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)