While fighting carbon policies, co-ops embrace renewables

OHIO: FirstEnergy says a proposed deal to support its aging power plants will be a windfall for ratepayers, but won’t release information that could shed light on that claim. Critics, meanwhile, continue to criticize the proposal as a ​“bailout.” (Midwest Energy News)

ALSO: A watchdog group says Gov. Kasich’s office is evading records requests related to S.B. 310, and an Ohio steel mill pays a $227,000 fine for falling short of renewable energy targets. (Columbus Dispatch, Cleveland Plain Dealer)

***SPONSORED LINK: Support Solar in Illinois – Purchase a raffle ticket to win a Tesla Model S and Bosch Home Charger from the Illinois Solar Energy Association! Only 2,000 tickets will be sold.***

UTILITIES: While rural co-ops generally aren’t embracing efforts to cut carbon emissions, many are building renewable energy projects anyway; securities filings outline details of a proposed Wisconsin Energy-Integrys merger; and a survey finds utilities see distributed generation as both a threat and an opportunity. (ClimateWire, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Greentech Media)

FRACKING: A new report says drillers have used thousands of gallons of diesel fuel in fracking operations without obtaining necessary federal permits, and anti-fracking protesters disrupt a meeting of state Democrats in Illinois. (Los Angeles Times, Quad-City Times)

SOLAR: Ford and DTE Energy plan a 1 MW solar array at the automaker’s Detroit heaquarters, and owners of a landmark Chicago building raise $600,000 for a solar project. (Associated Press, DNAinfo)

TRANSMISSION: Opponents pack a hearing on a proposed Clean Line transmission project in Missouri. (EnergyWire)

COAL: Amid concerns over rail congestion, BNSF pledges to ensure Midwest power plants have enough coal to continue operating. (La Cross Tribune)

OIL: A North Dakota commission recommends $1 billion in new spending for roads and bridges in the Oil Patch. (Forum News Service)

WASTE-TO-ENERGY: A Wisconsin tribe asks a judge to throw out a lawsuit related to its proposed waste-to-energy plant in Green Bay. (Green Bay Press-Gazette)

***SPONSORED LINK: The Illinois Renewable Energy Association will host the 13th annual Illinois Renewable Energy and Sustainable Lifestyle Fair on August 23 and 24 at the Ogle County Fairgrounds, Oregon, Illinois.***

CLIMATE: Michigan-based Kellogg Co. announces plans to cut carbon emissions, and Jimmy Carter says ​“nutcases” are preventing action on climate change. (Battle Creek Enquirer, The Hill)

COMMENTARY: Why a recent report on Keystone XL emissions is probably wrong, and do revolving doors really save energy? (Council on Foreign Relations, Vox)