Clean energy journalism for a cooler tomorrow

Vote expected next week on lifting Wisconsin nuclear moratorium

By Andy Balaskovitz

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NUCLEAR: Wisconsin lawmakers are expected to vote on a bill next week to lift the state’s moratorium on new nuclear plants. (Associated Press)

CLIMATE: Recent reports suggest Ohio may be ill-prepared for dealing with climate change impacts. (Midwest Energy News)

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SOLAR:
• Duke Energy is planning to build its first utility-scale solar project in Indiana, a 17-megawatt installation at a naval base. (Inside Indiana Business)
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While community solar appears to have widespread support, experts are unclear about the model’s future. (Utility Dive)
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Analysts now see strong industry growth into the 2020s with the extension of federal tax credits. (Utility Dive)

CLEAN POWER PLAN: North Dakota officials will reach out to tribes for input on a Clean Power Plan strategy. (Bismarck Tribune)

BIOFUELS: The U.S. Navy is set to launch a fleet of ships that will be supported by more than 77 million gallons of a non-food biofuel blend. (Biofuels Digest)

KEYSTONE XL: Legal experts say TransCanada may have a decent chance at winning one or both lawsuits against the Obama administration for rejecting the Keystone XL project. (Greenwire)

RENEWABLES: There is consensus within the wind and solar industries that further tax-credit extensions are unlikely after the current ones are phased out. (Forbes)

FRACKING:
• Members of the U.S. EPA’s Science Advisory Board are raising questions about a department report on fracking from last year, calling its findings ambiguous and in need of clarification. (Bloomberg)
• Back-to-back earthquakes, believed to be linked to fracking wastewater disposal, shook Wichita, Kansas and northern Oklahoma this week. (Wichita Eagle)

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RATES: While Nebraska’s electric rates may be among the lowest in the region, experts say they are increasing at a much faster pace than in neighboring states. (Energy Manager Today)

COMMENTARY: Plans to privatize portions of Nebraska’s public power industry should be met with skepticism. (Lincoln Journal Star)

CORRECTION: An item in Tuesday’s digest incorrectly stated FERC is calling for changes in PJM’s capacity auction. It is a MISO auction that is in dispute.