Xcel plan would shrink solar rebates to benefit more customers

SOLAR: Xcel Energy looks to shrink the size of its popular small-scale solar rebates in Minnesota in order to extend the incentive to more customers. (Energy News Network)

GRID:
• State regulators deadlock on developers’ request to rescind and reissue a new permit for a controversial transmission line through southwestern Wisconsin, allowing the original approval to stand. (Wisconsin State Journal)
• Utility officials in southeastern Wisconsin say power stayed on this week after a major storm because of previous investments to bury power lines. (WTMJ)

OHIO:
• Democrats shift scrutiny to Gov. Mike DeWine and his connections to key players in the ongoing bribery scandal involving the state’s power plant bailout law. (Ohio Capital Journal)
• DeWine rejects calls from Democrats to fire two top staffers with ties to FirstEnergy who admitted to scheming to bribe two state officials. (Toledo Blade)

COAL:
• Great River Energy expects to know today whether its member utility cooperatives will endorse the proposed sale of North Dakota’s largest coal plant in a deal that would involve buying electricity from the new owner. (Associated Press)
• Groundwater contaminated with PFAS complicates a western Michigan community’s plan to redevelop a former coal plant site into a recreation area and a smaller natural gas plant. (WOOD-TV)
• The U.S. EPA approves plans for an expanded coal ash cleanup site at an inactive coal plant in northwestern Indiana. (Indiana Environmental Reporter)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Experts say rural Kansas drivers would benefit from electric vehicles, including with lower travel costs, but charging infrastructure remains a barrier. (KMUW)

OIL & GAS:
• A Missouri natural gas utility facing a legal challenge over its permit to operate a St. Louis-area pipeline says shutting it down would risk reliability and lead to ​“potentially fatal consequences.” (Missouri Independent)
• Michigan regulators approve DTE Energy’s plan to upgrade natural gas transmission lines to ensure reliability in the northern Lower Peninsula. (Manistee News Advocate) 

GEOTHERMAL: Experts see a growing role for geothermal power as a path for widespread clean energy deployment. (Inside Climate News)

COMMENTARY:
• Michigan faith leaders call for ongoing investments in infrastructure and clean energy to deal with the climate crisis. (Michigan Advance)
• A North Dakota columnist says a company’s proposed plan to buy the state’s largest coal plant isn’t receiving enough scrutiny from the public or elected officials. (Inforum)
• President Biden’s nominee to be the U.S. ambassador to Canada faces bilateral disputes between the two countries involving major pipeline projects, an attorney writes. (Forbes)