Pennsylvania regulators ​‘unnerved’ over Ohio ​‘bailout’ deals

CONGRESS: U.S. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio is facing pushback from conservation groups over a bill that critics say would cut protection of natural areas while benefitting the fossil fuel industry. (Midwest Energy News)

MINNESOTA: A conservative energy group forms in Minnesota to focus on transitioning away from coal and embracing clean energy. (Midwest Energy News)

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OHIO:
• The Sierra Club asks its supporters to send letters to Ohio regulators backing AEP’s income-guarantee request. (Columbus Business First)
• Pennsylvania regulators are ​“unnerved” about the two income-guarantee requests in Ohio, saying a decision will have a direct impact on generators and consumers in their state. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• An Ohio municipal utility seeks rate increases as it expects electric costs to go up as a result of government regulations. (Dayton Daily News)

SOLAR:
• Officials at a northern Michigan municipal utility discuss rates at which solar generators are reimbursed as plans for a major project develop there. (Traverse City Record-Eagle)
• The number of states with solar at grid parity could be vastly different depending on the way rates are structured. (Utility Dive)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Indiana will continue to allow Tesla to sell its cars in the state following backlash toward a bill that would have required the company to adopt a franchise model. (Indianapolis Star)

CLEAN ENERGY:
• Iowa’s Terry Branstad is among 17 governors who have signed an accord committing their states to clean energy development. (Radio Iowa)
• Indiana utilities look to diversify their energy portfolios to be less dependent on coal. (South Bend Tribune)

MERGER: Washington D.C. regulators are scheduled to decide today on whether to approve the $6.8 billion merger between Pepco and Chicago-based Exelon. (Baltimore Business Journal)

WIND: A turbine collapses in Michigan during a snowstorm; no injuries are reported. (MLive)

OIL-BY-RAIL: The number of freight carloads of crude oil dropped 17 percent last year after oil prices collapsed. (Associated Press)

TRANSMISSION: A Wisconsin town is challenging in court the proposed route of a high-voltage transmission line. (LaCrosse Tribune)

BIOFUELS: In Missouri, biofuels have helped corn and soybean producers find new markets to unload excess supplies. (Missouri Farmer Today)

RESEARCH: U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz pledges to improve the ​“broken” relationship between the Department of Energy and national energy laboratories. (E&E Daily)

COAL:
• A Murray Energy subsidiary lays off another 100 employees at one of its Illinois coal mines. (Southern Business Journal)
• An Illinois man starts a movement to ​“make coal great again.” (WYMT-TV)

COMMENTARY:
• An alternative electric supplier says it’s time for Michigan to remove its 10 percent cap on electric choice in order to expand options for all ratepayers. (Midwest Energy News)
• While Michigan’s governor has talked for years about new energy policy, ​“little has actually been accomplished to make Michigan’s energy future appreciably more reliable, affordable, or sustainable.” (Union of Concerned Scientists)
• The $57 million in proceeds from selling Peabody Energy’s stake in the Prairie State Energy Campus should go back to ratepayers rather than the company. (Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis)