Polling shows majority of Ohio voters oppose ​‘bailout’ plans

UTILITIES: An Indiana utility wants regulatory approval for a fixed-rate increase of more than 80 percent as a way to ensure fairness among ratepayers, though utilities in other states are backing off the strategy. (Midwest Energy News)

OHIO:
• New polling shows ​“huge majorities” of Ohio voters are against the income-guarantee requests by FirstEnergy and AEP due to concerns about increased rates. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
• In closed-door meetings, FirstEnergy has portrayed its income-guarantee request as ​“an attempt to stave off financial disaster.” (Columbus Dispatch)

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CLEAN POWER PLAN: With the right investments over the next decade, Xcel Energy says it is ​“nearly certain” its Minnesota operations will comply with the federal rules. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

COAL:
• Murray Energy CEO Robert Murray says his company could go bankrupt unless severance tax rates are slashed. (Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register)
• Opposing groups have different redevelopment ideas for the site of a shuttered power plant in one Minnesota city. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
• Energy companies are worried they won’t be able to weather the new moratorium on coal leases for public lands. (Associated Press)
• One analysis says President Obama’s coal moratorium may have a bigger impact on climate change than the Clean Power Plan. (Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis)
• Xcel Energy says its plans to close two units at one of its major coal plants in Minnesota will have a minimal effect on rates. (St. Cloud Times)

WIND: Researchers have developed a concept for 50-megawatt wind turbines with blades the length of two football fields. (Digital Trends)

PIPELINE: Michigan seeks public comment on a draft proposal for independent contractors who would perform risk analyses on the oil pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac. (Associated Press)

NUCLEAR: The U.S. Senate looks to prioritize using nuclear energy as a way to reduce carbon emissions. (Forbes)

BIOFUELS:
• Outside of Iowa, the federal ethanol mandate is losing favor among policy experts and clean-energy advocates. (New York Times)
• A developer receives $4.2 million in tax incentives to build a new ethanol plant in southwest Iowa. (Associated Press)

CLIMATE: Money managers and Wall Street investors are now on ​“alert” about the impact climate change can have on stock prices. (ClimateWire)

SOLAR: With leftover funds from successfully fighting a coal-ash storage plan in Wisconsin, residents donate the money to a local school district to install solar panels. (LaCrosse Tribune)

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CONGRESS: While initial debate on sweeping energy legislation in the U.S. Senate has gone smoothly so far, contention may follow in the coming weeks. (E&E Daily)

COMMENTARY:
• FirstEnergy has become ​“the poster child for resistant utilities” hesitating to make clean energy investments. (Environmental Defense Fund)
• An ​“energy revolution” won’t require sweeping legislation, but a series of strategic incentives and investments, many of which are already underway. (New York Times)
• An objective, in-depth analysis of Ohio’s troubled electric system could be a ​“valuable public service.” (Columbus Dispatch)