SOLAR: Iowa taxpayers could save $375 million over the life of solar projects installed at county facilities and school districts, the state’s auditor reports. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

ALSO:
• Developers of a planned 108 MW solar project in central Ohio say the project would deliver local economic benefits and have limited impact on neighbors. (Newark Advocate)
• Renewable energy advocates push for more solar installations at Wisconsin school districts to lower operating expenses without cutting educational programming. (WDJT)

***SPONSORED LINK: “Achieve Your Renewable Goals With Geothermal” will be held virtually on March 3, and explore innovative ways for governments, industry, schools, utilities, and homeowners to use geothermal heat pumps to meet their renewable energy goals. There is no cost to attend. Register today.***

CLIMATE:
• Minnesota environmental justice advocates organize around Xcel Energy’s long-term energy plan that they say could deliver benefits to disadvantaged communities as statewide legislation stalls. (Sahan Journal)
• The county that covers Minneapolis and its inner-ring suburbs releases a climate action plan with hundreds of new strategies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. (Star Tribune)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Michigan automotive suppliers begin to shift operations in preparation for the electric vehicle transition as automakers and public officials announce new targets. (MiBiz)

PIPELINES: Tribal leaders in Minnesota ask Gov. Tim Walz to issue an executive order halting Line 3 pipeline construction amid ongoing lawsuits challenging the project. (MPR News)

COAL:
• Indiana bills calling for more safeguards in coal ash disposal are among dozens of environmental proposals that didn’t get a hearing this legislative session. (Indianapolis Star)
• Smokestack debris from a former southern Ohio coal plant that was demolished last week fell into the Ohio River. (WCPO)

GRID:
• Researchers install ultraviolet spotlights on Nebraska power lines to limit sandhill crane collisions. (Lincoln Journal Star)
• Michigan utility and regulatory officials say the state has infrastructure and market safeguards in place to help prevent widespread outages seen in Texas last month. (Crain’s Detroit Business)

WIND: A Nebraska bill would require counties to enact wind energy zoning regulations before authorizing projects. (News Channel Nebraska)

RENEWABLES: Indiana county officials call on state senators to reject a bill that would limit local regulations on renewable energy siting. (Daily Journal)

CLEAN ENERGY: U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan plans to introduce legislation aimed at boosting clean energy manufacturing jobs. (WLNS)

POLICY: North Dakota lawmakers are considering several bills this session involving the state’s coal, oil and gas, and wind sectors. (Bismarck Tribune)

OIL & GAS: A previous proposal by St. Louis’ natural gas utility seeking unified gas rates in western and eastern Missouri could increase rates in the St. Louis area. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

UTILITIES:
• U.S. electric co-op customers are demanding greater access to renewable energy as the utilities remain tied to expensive and polluting coal plants. (Inside Climate News)
• Evergy will name two additional directors to its board as part of an agreement with an activist investor firm. (Reuters)
• Minnesota officials expand the amount of energy assistance available to qualifying households following last month’s cold weather snap. (MPR News)
• Missouri regulators will investigate the operations of investor-owned utilities during the recent string of cold weather. (Joplin Globe)

COMMENTARY: Peoples Gas’ ongoing natural gas pipeline replacement program risks are making gas prices unaffordable for Chicago residents and should be re-examined, an editorial board says. (Chicago Sun-Times)

Andy compiles the Midwest Energy News digest and was a journalism fellow for Midwest Energy News from 2014-2020. He is managing editor of MiBiz in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and was formerly a reporter and editor at City Pulse, Lansing’s alternative newsweekly.