When Duke Energy Corp. proposed the Edwardsport plant in southwest Indiana in 2006, the project was billed as a "technological marvel" that would help usher in a new era of clean coal — a pillar of Duke's plan to be a climate change leader under then-CEO Jim Rogers. While much cleaner than conventional coal, an IGCC plant's complex systems are also what turbocharged Edwardsport's cost and the challenge of keeping it running smoothly — a reality the plant's operators are still grappling with.

Net metering in Michigan will remain in place for at least another year while regulators preside over what's likely to be a contentious proceeding to decide how future rooftop solar owners are compensated for excess generation.

A federal judge on Friday dismissed lawsuits by consumers and power plant owners challenging a provision in Illinois' new energy law that may provide more than $2 billion in subsidies to Exelon Corp. nuclear plants over the next decade.

Illinois' sweeping energy bill took effect last month, setting the stage for a significant expansion of solar and wind energy in the state. Now comes the hard part — putting legislative language into action.

More than two months after Kansas regulators slammed the door on Great Plains Energy Inc.'s planned $12 billion buyout of Westar Energy Inc., the utilities announced a revamped plan to tie the knot in an all-stock "merger of equals."