PIPELINES: A federal court vacates the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval of a Missouri gas pipeline, accusing FERC of taking an “ostrich-like approach” and ignoring its own standards by OK’ing the line. (S&P Global)
ALSO:
• President Biden frustrates environmental advocates as he is yet to take a public stance in opposition of the Line 3 pipeline like he did with Keystone XL. (Audubon)
• Minnesota regulators fine an Enbridge contractor working on the Line 3 project $25,000 for serious safety violations after the death of a worker last year. (Star Tribune)
• A federal judge dismisses the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s case against the Dakota Access pipeline developer but outlines a path for future legal challenges. (Bismarck Tribune)
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COAL: The Illinois attorney general sues Dynegy over the allegedly illegal coal ash disposal that has contaminated groundwater near the company’s Vermilion coal plant. (Chicago Sun-Times)
SOLAR: An Illinois solar job training program is among three that aim to boost clean energy employment within disadvantaged communities. (Energy News Network)
BUILDINGS: Government and utility programs help a Cleveland homeowner install various energy efficiency measures to cut energy usage. (NPR)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• A Kansas City nonprofit launches a program to equip streetlights with electric vehicle chargers to expand public access to charging equipment. (Yale Climate Connections)
• High costs and an uncertain return on investment are causing many U.S. gas station owners to avoid installing electric vehicle charging stations. (CBS News)
• Electric vehicle startup Lordstown Motors is “evaluating strategic partners” as it seeks additional funding to stay in operation. (Reuters)
UTILITIES: Michigan environmental advocates call on Consumers Energy to speed up its clean energy transition as the company prepares to announce its most recent long-term clean energy plan. (WWMT)
WIND: County officials in Iowa review local wind siting regulations as developers propose the community’s first utility-scale wind project. (KCAU)
TRANSPORTATION: Vehicle manufacturer Nikola buys a $50 million stake in an Indiana hydrogen plant. (Forbes)
CARBON CAPTURE: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announces a new task force to study the economic development potential of carbon capture and sequestration. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)
OIL & GAS: Union workers at a Minnesota refinery reject the facility owner’s latest contract offer five months after employees went on strike. (Star Tribune)
NUCLEAR:
• Exelon notifies grid operator PJM that it plans to begin shuttering the Byron nuclear plant in mid-September. (WFIR)
• Northwestern University is awarded U.S. Department of Energy funding to develop advanced nuclear energy technologies. (Daily Northwestern)
• Michigan officials announce more than $1.2 million in grants to help with “holistic” economic development efforts amid the planned closure of a nuclear plant next year. (MiBiz)
COMMENTARY: Advanced energy advocates say Michigan lawmakers should expand the state’s commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing program to include more properties and make it easier to install projects. (Crain’s Detroit Business)