POLICY: After two years of tense negotiations, Illinois stakeholders agree that a sweeping new clean energy bill is likely to pass this month. (Energy News Network)
RENEWABLES: Indigenous and historical groups say a proposed wind and solar project could threaten the experience of a culturally significant archaeological site for tribes in southern Minnesota. (Grist)
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ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Two Ohio transit agencies roll out their first electric buses this year as federal lawmakers push for funding to electrify the nation’s entire public transit fleet by 2035. (Energy News Network)
• President Biden is expected to promote his $174 billion electric vehicle plan today during a visit to a Ford manufacturing plant in Michigan. (Reuters)
• Biden’s focus on electric vehicles represents a shift in U.S. industrial policy that emphasizes potential growth industries, experts say. (Associated Press)
• The first electric school bus in Missouri debuted this year at a rural school district. (Missouri Times)
OHIO:
• A federal judge sides with FirstEnergy shareholders and refuses to throw out consolidated cases against the company’s board of directors involving Ohio’s power plant bailout law. (Cleveland.com, subscription)
• One of the key players in the federal investigation of the state’s scandal-tainted power plant bailout law denies key portions of the federal government’s claims against him. (Cleveland.com, subscription)
WIND:
• Michigan lawmakers introduce legislation that would limit utilities’ ability to reduce tax obligations over time for commercial wind projects. (Michigan Radio)
• County officials in eastern Illinois continue to debate wind siting regulations six months after a moratorium on new projects was passed. (Prairie Press)
PIPELINES:
• The Dakota Access pipeline owner in a new court filing cites the recent Colonial pipeline shutdown and a May 16 train derailment in Iowa as reasons to keep the project operating during an environmental review. (S&P Global)
• The first protests surrounding the Dakota Access pipeline five years ago sparked a time of unity for Indigenous tribes. (KXNET)
SOLAR:
• County officials in northeastern Indiana pass a 60-day moratorium on commercial solar projects amid reports that a developer is seeking land leases in the area. (Butler Bulletin)
• Ohio regulators schedule a public hearing in July for a proposed 250 MW solar project near Columbus. (Farm and Dairy)
OIL & GAS: Oil production output in North Dakota’s Bakken shale basin is expected to decline to its lowest point since last summer. (Reuters)
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POLITICS: The youth-driven climate group Sunrise Movement backs progressive candidate Nina Turner to succeed former Rep. Marcia Fudge in the U.S. House. (E&E News, subscription)
BIOFUELS: Nebraska’s ethanol production is almost back to pre-pandemic levels as nearly every plant is back online after shutdowns last year. (Brownfield)