Illinois AG asks Peabody to prove it can pay for mine reclamation

FINANCE: A new report shows that a $105 million public investment in Michigan could leverage roughly $3 billion in private spending on clean energy through the creation of a ​“green bank.” (Midwest Energy News)

WIND:
• Emails show that a former county health official in Wisconsin complained of migraines while spending time at a local wind farm, though officials say they were caused by other factors. (Green Bay Press Gazette)
• A new analysis shows grid operator MISO will likely have to revise assumptions about the amount of new wind generation coming online as part of the Clean Power Plan. (RTO Insider)

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COAL:
• Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan asks Peabody Energy to prove it has the resources to pay for mine reclamation in Southern Illinois. (Associated Press)
• Consumers Energy is close to shuttering seven coal plants in Michigan next month. (World Coal)

OHIO: Opponents ask state regulators to delay a decision on AEP’s income-guarantee request until federal regulators have a chance to weigh in. (Columbus Dispatch)

CLEAN ENERGY:
• Minnesota’s clean energy sector is ​“developing rapidly,” with 2,300 jobs expected to be added this year. (Midwest Energy News)
• A new Minnesota-based nonprofit launches to help promote clean energy businesses in the state. (Midwest Energy News)
• A Detroit clean energy startup saw revenues grow 340 percent last year. (Model D Media)
• A northern Minnesota utility’s energy outlook plan draws criticism for not focusing enough on wind and solar. (Minnesota Daily)

EMISSIONS: Clean energy groups and a Wisconsin utility settle a legal dispute over how much mercury can be emitted from a coal plant in the state. (Wisconsin Gazette)

NATURAL GAS: Major institutions struggle to meet sustainability goals by transitioning away from natural gas. (EnergyWire)

NUCLEAR: Industry officials ask federal regulators for a more efficient process to decommission nuclear reactors. (Utility Dive)

CLIMATE: A group of leading climate scientists warn that the worst effects of climate change could be felt in decades, not centuries. (New York Times)

EFFICIENCY: A Kansas City-based company has developed a highly efficient electric motor that can significantly cut down on operating costs. (Kansas City Business Journal)

UTILITIES: A Nebraska utility expects to spend more than $450 million by the end of 2022 to upgrade infrastructure and to accommodate new customers. (Lincoln Journal Star)

OIL AND GAS:
• A decision to phase out temporary housing — or ​“man camps” — for oil and gas workers in a western North Dakota town may prompt a lawsuit. (Associated Press)
• Deposits into North Dakota’s oil tax savings account are at their lowest levels since the fund was created nearly six years ago. (Associated Press)

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BIOFUELS: Iowa awards a record number of projects to upgrade biofuels infrastructure and offer higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel. (Ethanol Producer Magazine)

COMMENTARY: Minnesota is a national leader when it comes to embracing clean energy and complying with the Clean Power Plan. (Union of Concerned Scientists)