Midwest

ENN

At Chicago event, an evolving vision for the utility of the future

An unsuspecting person might think they had stumbled into a motivational speech, a New Age gathering or a corporate team-building seminar these days when the popular topic “the utility of the future” is being discussed.

By Kari Lydersen . 17 December 2015
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Q&A: What the Clean Power Plan will mean for Minnesota

By Frank Jossi . 17 December 2015
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Rural Nebraska lawmaker sees wind energy as an urgent lifeline

Nebraska state Sen. Al Davis, a Republican, says his state is running out of time to establish a wind industry, which he believes can help financially struggling rural communities.

By Karen Uhlenhuth . 16 December 2015
ENN

Michigan company builds microgrids abroad, sees opportunity at home

While most of a Ferndale, Michigan-based startup's projects so far have taken place far from the Midwest, it's not for a lack of potential at home.

By Guest Contributor . 16 December 2015
ENN

Critics say proposed FirstEnergy settlement still a bad deal for customers

Opponents of FirstEnergy’s plan to guarantee sales for some of its less profitable nuclear and coal plants say a proposed settlement is still an uncompetitive “bailout” with no net benefit to consumers.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski . 15 December 2015
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Minnesota project helps rural co-ops gain solar experience

Last month, Minnesota's second largest supplier of electricity finished a distributed generation project that included more than half its members.

By Frank Jossi . 15 December 2015
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Michigan city aims to cut energy use in half by 2030

Grand Rapids, Michigan today became the second city in the Midwest and 11th in the nation to set ambitious energy reduction targets over the next 15 years.

By Andy Balaskovitz . 14 December 2015
ENN

Critics say Upper Peninsula utility moving too fast on new generation

As a utility in Michigan's Upper Peninsula plans for future generation to replace aging coal infrastructure, some critics say the process is moving too fast.

By Andy Balaskovitz . 14 December 2015
ENN

FirstEnergy rate settlement proposal sets stage to boost fixed costs

An Ohio utility’s plan to guarantee sales for some of its power plants also includes a provision that advocates say will further discourage energy efficiency and distributed generation.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski . 14 December 2015
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Q&A: Clean Energy Trust's new leader 'extremely optimistic' about Midwest

Erik Birkerts, the new CEO of the Clean Energy Trust, explains how the organization advances the clean energy economy and how the Midwest can play a leadership role.

By Kari Lydersen . 11 December 2015