NUCLEAR: Illinois lawmakers could vote as soon as today on legislation to save two Exelon nuclear plants from closing. (Reuters)
PIPELINES:
• The Minnesota Court of Appeals upholds a state agency’s approval of a key water permit for the Line 3 pipeline in yet another setback for pipeline opponents. (Associated Press)
• Dozens of Minnesota Democratic lawmakers call on President Biden to intervene and recognize treaty rights in the dispute over the Line 3 pipeline. (Star Tribune)
• TC Energy begins to remove Keystone XL pipeline infrastructure from South Dakota after the Biden administration rejected the company’s permit for the project. (South Dakota Public Broadcasting)
EMISSIONS: A Missouri activist wants state regulators to require gas companies to pinpoint and map methane leaks within their systems, though the utilities are pushing back. (Energy News Network)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Technological problems have so far hampered the rollout of electric buses in Minneapolis-St. Paul and Duluth, Minnesota. (Minnesota Reformer)
• Cities like Columbus, Ohio are playing a key role in reducing transportation emissions by switching to electrified municipal fleets. (Yale Climate Connections)
• General Motors says it isn’t confident that its electric vehicle battery supplier, LG Chem, can produce defect-free batteries. (Detroit Free Press)
WIND: Local officials in Iowa say a developer is avoiding concessions on wind turbine setback distances that were recommended by a state agency. (Globe Gazette)
GRID: North Dakota transmission officials are closely monitoring the widespread outages in Louisiana caused by Hurricane Ida for potential impacts farther north. (KFYR)
SOLAR:
• A southeastern Wisconsin solar group-buying program hits its first participation goal, enabling it to offer rebates to customers who install projects. (Daily Jefferson County Union)
• State regulators will hold a public hearing in November on a planned 175 MW solar project in southwestern Ohio, part of a flurry of proposed projects in the state totaling more than 1,100 MW of capacity. (WKKJ, PV Magazine)
COMMENTARY: Iowa lawmakers should restore renewable energy tax credits and utility energy efficiency programs to address climate change and also save money in the long run through lower insurance premiums, an editor writes. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)