CLIMATE: As Detroit launches a new climate mitigation and adaptation plan aimed at empowering residents with more direct funding, some critics say efforts are already underway at the community level. (Energy News Network)
SOLAR:
• Ohio’s solar power capacity is expected to overtake the state’s coal generation by the end of the decade as thousands of megawatts of solar are waiting to be built and coal plants come offline. (Energy News Network)
• Kansas City officials announce plans for a 300 MW solar project at Kansas City International Airport that would provide enough power to cover city operations and help attract events and companies. (KCUR)
• Alliant Energy expects to file a $750 million plan with Iowa regulators to acquire a planned 200 MW solar project while building out an additional 200 MW plus 75 MW of storage in eastern Iowa. (Des Moines Register)
• Indiana utility NIPSCO breaks ground on a pair of solar projects totaling 465 MW of capacity. (Renewables Now)
• A Michigan agency plans to purchase nearly 1 MW of solar power generated at seven state parks in southwestern Michigan. (FOX 17)
PIPELINES:
• Enbridge has paid more than $2.9 million for Minnesota law enforcement and public safety expenses related to the Line 3 pipeline. (ABC News)
• “Oh, so now you want to talk about treaties,” a Michigan tribal leader says in response to Canada’s plan to invoke a 1977 treaty to keep Line 5 operating. (Michigan Advance)
EMISSIONS: Xcel Energy announces plans to reach net-zero carbon emissions for its natural gas utility by 2050 through a mix of hydrogen, renewable natural gas, electrification, and energy conservation. (Star Tribune)
TRANSMISSION: Developers plan to break ground this week on the Wisconsin portion of a controversial 102-mile clean energy transmission project. (Telegraph Herald)
UTILITIES:
• FirstEnergy agrees to issue $306 million in customer refunds over five years to resolve claims that its subsidiaries made excessive profits in recent years. (Cleveland.com)
• Duluth-based Minnesota Power seeks a 21% rate increase to cover the costs of clean energy investments made since 2016. (FOX 21)
COAL: Two environmental groups announce plans to sue a coal mining operator following an unsuccessful attempt to extinguish an ongoing fire in an Illinois mine by pumping in toxic foam. (Southern Illinoisan)
CLEAN ENERGY:
• Advocates say more work needs to be done to diversify Minnesota’s clean energy workforce. (Finance & Commerce)
• Wisconsin recently reached a milestone of 1,000 MW of installed renewable energy capacity. (WXPR)
TRANSPORTATION: A coalition of energy businesses and environmental groups proposes a plan to invest $600 million of federal pandemic relief funding into clean transportation initiatives in Michigan. (Crain’s Detroit Business)
DIVESTMENT: Fossil fuel divestment is an emerging trend within the nonprofit sector as two of the biggest names among U.S. foundations transition their investments from fossil fuels. (Associated Press)