Illinois

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Illinois advocates urge EPA not to roll back coal ash regulation

Illinois environmentalists testified before the Environmental Protection Agency this week, urging officials not to roll back an Obama-era regulation limiting discharge into waterways from steam powered electric plants.

By Guest Contributor . 1 August 2017
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In Illinois, smart thermostats seen as key energy management tool

Illinois’s largest utility, state regulators, environmental and consumer advocates recently rallied together in Chicago in support of an inconspicuous but powerful gadget: the smart thermostat.

By David J. Unger . 1 August 2017
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Navigating smart meter privacy a challenge for smart grid innovators

As smart meter usage expands, so do questions about the ways utilities and other companies can harness energy data to advance grid technology.

By Douglas J. Guth . 12 July 2017
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Illinois shows examples of 'integrated approach' needed for climate targets

The global energy system is evolving, but not fast enough to meet decarbonization goals aimed at curbing the worst impacts of climate change, according to an International Energy Agency report released in Chicago last week.

By David J. Unger . 5 July 2017
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Report finds no immediate concerns about grid reliability

The North American power grid is reliable and resilient despite the growth of variable, renewable energy sources as well as an increasing risk of both cybersecurity and physical threats, according to a new analysis.

By David J. Unger . 22 June 2017
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Two Midwest utilities achieve high ranking on efficiency scorecard

Despite relatively low electricity prices in the Midwest, utilities based in Minnesota and Illinois are among the most energy efficient in the country, according to a recent report by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.

By Frank Jossi . 19 June 2017
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Illinois researchers explore ‘self-healing’ for energy storage batteries

Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are exploring the potential for “self-healing” energy storage batteries that could respond to deterioration after wear and tear.

By David J. Unger . 14 June 2017
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Illinois partnership looks to build trust in grid through cybersecurity research

A team of researchers at a unique facility in downstate Illinois is working to answer questions around maintaining trust in the power grid, particularly when faced with cybersecurity threats.

By David J. Unger . 12 June 2017
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Illinois utility’s microgrid first to ‘island’ nearby residential customers

Tucked away behind a research park at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a glimpse into what many industry analysts say is the future of the power industry.

By David J. Unger . 7 June 2017
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Beyond venture capital: Midwest clean tech looks for other funders amid gloomy investment outlook

Venture capital invested in clean tech is shrinking, and the capital that is being spent is concentrated on the East and West coasts, not the Midwest, according to a recent study by the Brookings Institution.

By Kari Lydersen . 6 June 2017