COAL: Advocates say Illinois lacks adequate regulations on limiting the spread of pollutants as a growing number of coal plants are demolished. (St. Louis Public Radio)
ALSO: Private equity firms are increasingly buying and profiting from old coal plants that are paid to remain online to maintain reliability during high demand periods. (Reuters)
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ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Minnesota environmental groups express dismay as the state’s largest transit agency seeks to purchase 143 biodiesel buses instead of electric models. (Star Tribune)
• A coalition of six utilities including American Electric Power pledge to build out an electric vehicle fast-charging network along major U.S. highways. (Reuters)
• AES Indiana files plans with state regulators to offer rebates and incentives to customers purchasing electric vehicles. (Indiana Business Journal)
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s proposed budget includes funding to hire more people to enforce emissions standards, particularly in high-pollution areas. (MinnPost)
SOLAR:
• A solar group-buying program helps St. Louis-area residents reduce the upfront cost of rooftop installations. (St. Louis Magazine)
• A Wisconsin city purchases a 7-acre parcel of land to build a solar project that would power its wastewater treatment facility. (WSAW)
• A Kansas City-area KOA campground installs a solar array to supply power to guests with RVs. (news release)
• Advocates say a new fee in Bowling Green, Ohio, is discouraging rooftop solar installations. (Toledo Blade)
BIOGAS: Missouri researchers are examining the potential to turn biowaste like food scraps and manure into renewable natural gas to power vehicles. (Centered)
OIL & GAS:
• North Dakota regulators consider a request by Montana-Dakota Utilities to increase natural gas rates to replace aging infrastructure. (Bismarck Tribune)
• Nebraska regulators will intervene in the February price spikes expected on upcoming bills for customers of private natural gas companies. (Omaha World-Herald)
CLIMATE:
• U.S. House Democrats unveil legislation to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 with benchmarks starting for utilities in 2023. (Detroit News)
• A city outside of Indianapolis releases a climate action plan that officials say will require participation from households and businesses. (Inside Indiana Business)
PIPELINES: The brother of one of President Biden’s top advisers is now lobbying for the company attempting to build the Keystone XL pipeline. (E&E News, subscription)
NUCLEAR: A Wisconsin state senator urges federal regulators to extend the operating license of a nuclear plant along Lake Michigan through 2050. (Seehafer News)
COMMENTARY: Ratepayers would benefit by closing the uneconomic Prairie State coal plant in Illinois, clean energy advocates say. (Natural Resources Defense Council)