Tesla Motors and Panasonic have announced they plan to produce solar modules together if Tesla’s shareholders vote on Nov. 17 to approve a $2.2 billion acquisition of SolarCity.

The companies have signed a nonbinding letter of intent under which Panasonic would make solar cells and modules at the SolarCity factory in Buffalo, N.Y. Tesla would work out a long-term deal to buy and use those solar panels in a system combining them with its Powerwall and Powerpack battery storage products. That is all contingent, however, on Tesla’s acquisition of SolarCity.

Panasonic is presently spending $1.6 billion so it can produce battery cells that will be used for Tesla’s Model 3 electric car and energy storage products for home and utilities.

More: The Buffalo News

Luminant to Shutter Texas Lignite Coal Mine

Luminant plans to shutter its Oak Hill, Texas, mine, which is one of the four lignite coal mines that feeds its Martin Lake power plant.

The company, which is Texas’ largest power generator, closed three small North Texas mines earlier this year to switch from lignite to Wyoming’s Powder River Basin coal.

Earlier this year, Luminant bought two major gas-fired power plants in northeastern Texas.

More: Fuel Fix

MGE Names Keebler as New CEO and President

Jeffrey Keebler will be taking over as CEO and president of Madison Gas & Electric on March 1, 2017. He will succeed Gary Wolter, who is retiring.

Keebler, who has been with MGE since 1995, presently serves as senior vice president of energy supply and planning.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

More: Wisconsin State Journal

Regulators: Empire Can’t Raise Oklahoma Rates without Hearing

State regulators last week rejected a request by Empire District Electric to raise Oklahoma customers’ rates to match those of Empire’s Missouri customers.

The state’s Corporation Commission did not rule out a rate hike, but it said Empire would have to go through a rate change hearing to establish justification.

Empire had asked for a rate increase of up to 45.37% per month per 1,000 kWh.

More: The Miami News-Record

Layoff Plan Set for Fort Calhoun Ahead of Shutdown

The Omaha Public Power District released a plan last week to begin reducing the number of workers at its Fort Calhoun nuclear plant in Blair, Neb., which permanently ceased operations Monday.

As part of the decommissioning, the plant will lay off about 270 workers over the next 20 months in six batches. The first round of cuts — 60 people — is scheduled for Nov. 1, while the second round is set for the first quarter of 2017. Laid off employees will be placed in career transition workshops, OPPD said.

More: The Associated Press

Enbridge Reduces US, Canadian Workforce by 5%

Enbridge announced last week a 5% workforce reduction across the company, amounting to the elimination of 530 jobs in the U.S. and Canada.

The company shed 370 positions in Canada and 160 in the U.S., 45 of which are in Houston.

Enbridge spokesman Michael Barnes said the cutbacks are not related to the company’s plans to purchase Houston-based Spectra Energy in a $28 billion deal expected to close early next year.

More: Houston Chronicle

Minnesota Power Plans Shutdown Of Two Coal-Fired Generators

Minnesota Power announced last week that it will shut down two of its coal-fired generators in Cohasset by the end of 2018 as it transitions to natural gas and renewable resources.

In June, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission ordered the utility to shut down Boswell Units 1 and 2 by 2022.

The utility has achieved a 25% renewable energy mix, beating the state’s goal of 25% by 2025. It expects to reduce carbon emissions on its system by about 20% by 2020 and 30% by 2025 compared with 2005 levels.

More: Duluth News Tribune

MidAmerican to Reduce Its Reactive Service Rate

FERC last week approved an offer of settlement by MidAmerican Energy in which it agreed to reduce its reactive service rate from $0.18/MWh to $0.14/MWh, effective May 1, 2016. The settlement was uncontested.

More: FERC

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