TRANSMISSION: The Missouri Supreme Court upholds a lower court ruling that approved a certificate of necessity for the Grain Belt Express transmission project, ending a long effort by opponents to overturn the decision. (KTTN)
POWER PLANTS:
• The Minnesota Supreme Court agrees to hear a case involving the environmental review of a utility’s proposed investment in a $700 million natural gas plant in Superior, Wisconsin. (Wisconsin State Journal)
• A proposal to redevelop a former Missouri coal plant into a biofuels production facility is filed by individuals under federal scrutiny for their involvement in questionable utility contracts in the same city. (Kansas City Star)
SOLAR: Supply-chain disruptions and homeowners’ reluctance to install solar panels amid the coronavirus pandemic has the industry lobbying for help from federal lawmakers. (E&E News, subscription)
PIPELINES: Oil and gas pipeline companies say the coronavirus outbreak has not disrupted operations as they follow business continuity plans. (S&P Global)
CLEAN ENERGY: Illinois lawmakers at a town hall earlier this month discussed their support for legislation to expand clean energy and electric vehicle development across the state. (Evanston RoundTable)
OIL & GAS: Financial analysts say fracking and petrochemicals will be two industries hardest hit by the effects of the coronavirus as they will have difficulty paying down their massive debts. (Environmental Health News)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Tesla drivers recently displayed their cars outside of the Kansas City Auto Show after the event organizers blocked the company from participating because of its direct-sales model. (Electrek)
COMMENTARY: Indiana utility Vectren is ignoring economic analyses showing renewable energy is cheaper than maintaining coal plants, a utility watchdog group says. (Energy and Policy Institute)