SOLAR: Coal-reliant Indiana is preparing to host what will be the largest solar project in the U.S. as the state’s power infrastructure ages and utilities plan a shift to clean energy. (Grist)
ALSO:
• State regulators will hold a public hearing this month on a proposed 200 MW solar project in southeastern Minnesota. (Post Bulletin)
• An Indiana engine and power equipment parts dealer completes a solar installation that will offset its electrical costs for daily operations. (Inside Indiana Business)
PIPELINES:
• A North Dakota judge rules that thousands of documents related to the security of the heavily protested Dakota Access pipeline are public and subject to the state’s open records law. (Bismarck Tribune)
• Federal regulators propose a $40 million fine for the multistate Rover natural gas pipeline developer, which is accused of using diesel fuel and other toxic substances while drilling under an Ohio river four years ago. (Associated Press)
• A Wisconsin agency requests public comments on the environmental impacts of a proposed reroute of the Line 5 pipeline around tribal land. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Automaker Stellantis’ Chrysler brand plans to shift to an all-electric lineup of vehicle models by 2028 while introducing new products. (Reuters)
• Ford seeks to address the “high proportion of annoyances” that electric vehicle drivers are experiencing by inspecting third party-owned charging stations and reporting malfunctions to the owners. (E&E News)
• Amazon is set to be the first commercial customer of Stellantis’ Ram electric delivery van when it launches next year. (Detroit Free Press)
COAL: The U.S. Justice Department argues in recent court filings that Ameren should close a large Missouri coal plant sooner than 2024, accusing the utility of engineering a “drawn out” plan to close the facility. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
DECARBONIZATION: Illinois and Minnesota are taking varying paths to achieve grid decarbonization while Ohio continues to subsidize fossil fuel plants and stymie local renewable energy development. (RTO Insider, subscription)
GRID:
• Grid operator PJM expects load growth to increase by roughly 0.5% each year over the next decade with growth coming from data centers in some areas and electric vehicles across its footprint. (Utility Dive)
• American Electric Power will have to pay $570,000 to a regional grid reliability entity for violations of reliability standards. (RTO Insider, subscription)
RENEWABLES: A southwestern Ohio county is considering amending local zoning rules that address residential solar and energy storage systems as well as utility-scale solar projects. (News Journal)