By Andy Balaskovitz, Midwest Energy News

In a speech this week to a large, business-friendly crowd in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Consumers Energy President and CEO Patti Poppe presented an economic case for solar power, electric vehicles and moving past coal. The company closed seven Michigan coal plants in 2016, cutting carbon emissions 25 percent without hurting its workforce. As the company focuses on solar in the coming years, Poppe said electric vehicles will play a growing role in the company’s “triple bottom line” principle of serving people, the planet and prosperity. Read more here.
Photo: Consumers Energy’s community solar array at Grand Valley State University.
MORE CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION NEWS
EIA says 4 GW of coal-fired capacity may retire by end of 2019, American Public Power Association. So far in 2018, 11 GW of coal-fired generating capacity has retired through September, and another 3 GW are expected to retire in the final three months of the year, based on data reported to EIA by plant owners and operators. “If these plants retire as planned, 2018 will be the second-highest year for coal retirements. Another 4 GW of capacity are planning to retire by the end of 2019,” EIA reported.
U.S. energy storage storm grows in strength, PV Magazine
A Wood Mackenzie report shows U.S. energy storage deployments tripling in capacity during Q3 ’18 versus last year’s volume, while noting that the future pipeline growth rate doubled versus prior quarters to reach a 33 GW of future projects.
NEWS FROM OTHER STATES

- Iowa utility’s wind farm approved over objections from clean energy groups, Midwest Energy News. Environmental groups wanted Iowa regulators to order a study of MidAmerican’s coal fleet before approving its latest wind investment.
- Iowa approves 591 MW wind for MidAmerican, environmentalists say utility’s portfolio is ‘misleading’, Utility Dive. The Sierra Club questioned MidAmerican’s 100% renewable energy claims and the cost-effectiveness of the utility’s coal fleet, which it says is still almost 3 GW.
- New York announces free community solar for 10,000 low-income residents, PV Magazine
Nine community solar projects within the state will be participating in the “Solar For All” program, providing access to no-cost community solar for low-income New Yorkers.
- California utilities prep nation’s biggest time-of-use rate roll out, Utility Dive
Many utility tests of time varying rates have led to bill savings and lower peak loads, but California will soon be taking on the biggest test yet by putting over 20 million customers on time-of-use (TOU) rates.
- Solar plus geothermal under review in Nevada, PV Magazine
- Customers Embrace Ameren’s Community Solar Program — Opportunties Are Still Available,
EMissourian
- Facebook data center feeds Georgia solar boom with 200 MWac, PV Magazine
Walton EMC has signed contracts with three new solar projects to supply a new Facebook data center. This is the latest big announcement among many, and one plant will feature half-cut mono-PERC modules from Hanwha Q Cells’ new U.S. factory.
EV NEWS

New plans by VW, Tesla and BYD support predictions that EV sales are set to skyrocket, PV Magazine
Major Study Shows Electric Bikes Good For Health, CleanTechnica
There was moderate evidence that e-cycling provided physical activity of at least moderate intensity, which was lower than the intensity elicited during conventional cycling, but higher than that during walking. There was also moderate evidence that e-cycling can improve cardiorespiratory fitness in physically inactive individuals. Photo: Omaha QuikByke Kiosk
ENERGY CONSERVATION

Rule your attic, save on energy costs, The Wire, OPPD Blog