Midwest oil-by-rail shipments down as North Dakota oil production drops

LAST CHANCE: Today is the last day to take the Midwest Energy News reader survey. Thanks to everyone who’s provided feedback so far!

SOLAR:
• A new report challenges the assumption that large-scale solar installations are the most economical. (Midwest Energy News)
• Tesla says it will work with electronics company Panasonic Corp. on building solar cells and modules. (Associated Press)

EFFICIENCY:
• Chicago utility ComEd has launched a new outreach effort to boost participation in its energy efficiency programs, particularly among low-income ratepayers. (Midwest Energy News)
• The University of Kansas reduced energy use enough over the past year to exceed its overall energy efficiency goal. (Lawrence Journal-World)

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OIL AND GAS:
• Oil-by-rail shipments from the Midwest have plummeted as North Dakota’s oil production falls to a two-year low. (LaCrosse Tribune)
• A North Dakota facility that treats oilfield waste is shutting down due to ongoing permit violations. (Bismarck Tribune)
• Plans for a new natural gas plant in southern Michigan are revived. (South Bend Tribune)

PIPELINES:
• Federal officials say shortfalls still exist in Enbridge’s emergency response plan should an oil spill occur in the Straits of Mackinac. (MLive)
• Another 14 protesters are arrested in North Dakota over the weekend at Dakota Access pipeline protests. (Bismarck Tribune)
• Law enforcement authorities are closely watching Dakota Access pipeline protesters. (EnergyWire)

COAL:
• A lawsuit filed against American Electric Power says the company did not protect the public from coal waste at an Ohio plant. (West Virginia Record)
• The chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights says utilities need to step up their ​“corporate social responsibility when it comes to protecting affected communities” from coal ash. (Utility Dive)

FRAC SAND: About 200 people attended a public hearing on whether a Minnesota county should ban frac sand mining. (Winona Daily News)

HYDRO: Advocates want to build a new public park in Minneapolis at the same site where developers are looking to build a hydroelectric facility. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

UTILITIES: Great Plains Energy reaches a deal with Missouri regulators over the company’s $8.6 billion takeover of rival Westar Energy Inc. (Wichita Eagle)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown from Ohio proposes a bill that would offer as much as $3,000 a year in pre-tax benefits to people who use electric vehicles to commute to work. (Autoblog)

POLITICS: Many Ohio voters believe the future of the state’s coal industry is at stake in this year’s presidential election; experts say the decline will continue regardless of the outcome. (Toledo Blade)

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COMMENTARY:
• Modeling shows Michigan could profit from using energy efficiency and selling carbon credits in its Clean Power Plan compliance strategy. (American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy)
• FirstEnergy’s ​“bailout” from Ohio regulators is part and parcel of the utility’s survival strategy. (Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis)

CORRECTION: An item in Thursday’s digest was mistakenly labeled ​“demand response”; the article it referred to was about demand charges.