Exelon: Decision to close Illinois nuclear plants ​‘can be reversed’

NUCLEAR: Exelon officials detail plans to close two Illinois nuclear plants in 2017 and 2018, but note that ​“the decision can be reversed.” (Chicago Tribune)

ALSO:
• Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner says he is ​“extremely upset” about the announcement: ​“I want to keep these plants open.” (Crain’s Chicago Business)
• Business owners in towns near the plants worry about local economic impacts: ​“This was like a punch in the gut.” (Quad City Times, Bloomington Pantagraph)
• Meanwhile, Exelon is close to an agreement with advocates on clean energy legislation. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

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OHIO:
• Organizers of an annual clean energy tour hope to persuade state lawmakers of the economic importance of wind and solar. (Midwest Energy News)
• A liberal group says Attorney General Mike DeWine’s campaign contributions from fossil fuel industries create a conflict of interest. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
• A Sierra Club advocate, a state lawmaker and a prominent energy lawyer are among 19 candidates for a vacancy on the state’s Public Utilities Commission. (Columbus Business First)

SOLAR:
• Minnesota regulators approve a utility’s community solar program amid criticism from advocates that it shuts out competition. (Duluth News Tribune)
• A court sides with Minnesota regulators in upholding size limits for community solar projects. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
• Indiana churches that have installed solar panels share their experiences. (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette)

WIND: Amazon pushes to ease restrictive wind turbine siting rules in Ohio. (Dayton Daily News)

TRANSMISSION: Missouri municipal utilities enter capacity agreements with the Grain Belt Express transmission line, which could help developers win approval from state regulators. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

COAL: An Illinois county says bankrupt coal companies owe more than $100,000 in taxes, but expects the money will be recovered. (Carbondale Southern Illinoisan) 

EFFICIENCY:
• An Ohio manufacturer of super-efficient medical deep freezes seeks to expand. (Columbus Business First)
• A Wisconsin company sees a bright future in LED lighting. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

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POLITICS: Iowa ​“offers a glimpse at what a thriving, apolitical renewable energy sector looks like.” (Yale E360)

COMMENTARY:
• Exelon’s announced Illinois nuclear closures are ​“a nasty black eye” for the state. (Quad City Times)
• Why Ohio’s ​“bailout” proposals should alarm conservatives. (Real Clear Energy)
• Michigan should build on its clean energy progress, rather than pulling the plug. (NRDC Switchboard)