Interest in community solar is growing in Minnesota

TRANSMISSION: In a recent ruling on Minnesota’s Buy the Farm law, ​“perception is greater than reality” on the impact of transmission lines to agricultural operations. (Midwest Energy News)

PIPELINES: Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources says state regulators should ​“strongly consider” alternative routes for a proposed oil pipeline, and Keystone XL weighs heavily in Nebraska’s gubernatorial race. (Minneapolis Star Tribune, Omaha World-Herald)

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SOLAR: A Colorado solar company sets up shop in Minnesota, amid growing interest in community solar in the state. (Minneapolis/​St. Paul Business Journal, Rochester Post-Bulletin)

COAL: At a gathering in Wyoming, coal industry executives discuss their future, and abandoned coal mines cause a highway to sag in Ohio. (Wyoming Business Report, Columbus Dispatch)

NUCLEAR: The Kalamazoo Gazette examines the safety record of the Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan.

ELECTRIC CARS: Tesla and GM race to produce the first mass-market electric vehicle. (Quartz)

NATURAL GAS: Ameren Illinois launches a $400 million natural gas system upgrade. (Springfield State Journal-Register)

UTILITIES: Residential customers of We Energies could see rates go up 5 percent under a proposed plan. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

PROPANE: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker urges residents to being filing now for propane assistance. (Associated Press)

GRID: FERC’s new chair discusses the challenges facing energy markets. (EnergyWire)

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GEOTHERMAL: Along with wind and solar, geothermal energy is a growing part of the energy mix. (Forbes)

COMMENTARY: FirstEnergy needs to disclose its efficiency data, and why Bill Gates is wrong about clean energy. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, Greentech Media)