PIPELINES: A northern Minnesota shelter has received increased calls for service and reports of sexual assault and harassment involving workers on the Line 3 pipeline. (Minnesota Reformer)
ALSO:
• Tribal members in Michigan worry about similar violence toward women should construction move forward on the Line 5 pipeline tunnel. (Michigan Advance)
• Oil and gas pipelines are driving a wedge between labor and environmental groups as President Biden takes action on climate change. (Washington Post)
• Tribal members endure cold weather and the pandemic in northern Minnesota in an attempt to block Line 3 construction. (Sierra Magazine)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• A Minnesota lawmaker proposes taxing electricity as a fuel at EV charging stations as a way to generate revenue for road projects. (St. Cloud Times)
• Automakers are launching EV models that are cheaper and offer solid range as part of a plan to boost adoption. (ABC News)
OHIO:
• Ohio’s secretary of state adds five more allegations of campaign finance violations against former House Speaker Larry Householder, who’s under investigation for his alleged role in a $60 million bribery scheme. (WKSU)
• FirstEnergy and FirstEnergy Solutions donated more than $1 million to nonprofits and political campaigns since 2017 to help elect Gov. Mike DeWine. (Dayton Daily News)
WIND:
• An Iowa State researcher finds that ice buildup may cause Iowa wind turbines to lose 5-10% of their production capacity, not nearly as severe in other states or countries. (Ames Tribune)
• Taxation disputes between major utilities and Michigan officials could significantly reduce local tax revenue from wind projects. (Morning Sun)
SOLAR: Developers make progress with southern Illinois landowners and local governments over plans for a 110 MW solar project. (Journal Courier)
POLICY: U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm discusses her early priorities as she helps oversee the Biden administration’s plan to eliminate carbon emissions from the power sector by 2035. (E&E News, subscription)
OIL & GAS:
• Equipment failures caused two separate crude oil spills totaling 750 barrels in North Dakota last week. (Williston Herald)
• A small Kansas town accuses BP Energy of inflating natural gas prices during last month’s extreme cold. (Kansas Reflector)
GRID: Experts draw key distinctions between Indiana’s power grid and Texas’, though they caution utilities to prepare for extreme weather. (WBOI)
COMMENTARY:
• The benefits of a planned 100 MW solar project in central Ohio outweigh “any negatives associated with the project,” an editorial board says. (Marion Star)
• Preserving Ohio’s nuclear plants should be part of the state’s clean energy plan that also relies on renewables, electric vehicles and energy efficiency, a former columnist writes. (Akron Beacon Journal)
• Using eminent domain in some cases to build the Grain Belt Express transmission project is necessary for the greater good, an editorial board says. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)