Illinois regulators look to crack down on misleading ​‘green energy’ claims

WIND: A Michigan-based company is developing a new turbine-less wind system that could cut the cost of offshore wind projects in half. (Midwest Energy News)

RENEWABLES:
• A Republican congressman from Nebraska describes his transition to generating renewable energy at his home. (EnergyWire)
• Wind and solar accounted for all new U.S. generating capacity in January. (Utility Dive)
• Illinois regulators are looking to crack down on misleading claims from retail electric suppliers to customers when marketing ​“green energy.” (Chicago Tribune)

*** SPONSORED LINK: Solar Powering Iowa, March 23-24 in Cedar Rapids will be packed with an energizing mix of pre-conference trainings, keynotes, breakout sessions, and networking. Register today!***

OHIO: The operator of a new natural gas plant in Ohio says state regulators should vote against two utilities’ income-guarantee requests in order to encourage investment in new plants. (Columbus Business First)

OIL AND GAS:
• A Michigan agency approves a permit for an exploratory oil well in metro Detroit. (Detroit Free Press)
• 2016 will likely be the first year that natural gas generation surpasses coal on an annual basis. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

SOLAR: Whole Foods announces a deal with SolarCity and NRG Energy to install rooftop solar panels at up to 100 store locations. (New York Times)

PIPELINES:
• Iowa regulators are expected to issue a decision Thursday on the Bakken oil pipeline project. (WHO-TV)
• Residents in a southeast Minnesota county are concerned about a new natural gas pipeline that would pass through preserved parkland. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

STORAGE: Extending the federal Investment Tax Credit for solar will also provide a boost to the storage industry. (Utility Dive)

ELECTRIC CHOICE: A new energy policy in Michigan is being stalled due to a dispute over how to move forward with electric choice. (MLive)

CLIMATE:
• The Department of Defense updates its official ​“Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms” to include climate change. (Greenwire)
• A new report says roughly one-third of congressional lawmakers are climate deniers. (Grist)

***SPONSORED LINK: The Advancing Renewables in the Midwest Conference, April 11-12 in Columbia, Missouri focuses on programs, policies, and projects that enhance the use of renewable energy resources in the Midwest for the economic benefit of the region. Register today!***

COAL: U.S. utilities are now scheduled to retire nearly two gigawatts of coal capacity by 2021. (SNL/​Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis)

COMMENTARY: Contrary to the ​“overly-heated rhetoric” from the coal industry, Illinois’ path forward ​“must include a confident embrace of a clean energy future.” (Southern Illinoisan)