Editor’s note: Midwest Energy News is taking an extended break for the holidays. We’ll return on Jan. 3. Thanks for reading and see you in the new year!
COAL: As an Illinois coal plant owner shares a required coal ash cleanup plan, some worry that older, “legacy” coal ash deposits not covered under state and federal laws might pose a greater risk for groundwater contamination and redevelopment plans. (Energy News Network)
PIPELINES:
• A Great Lakes intertribal agency says Wisconsin’s draft environmental review for a planned Line 5 reroute around tribal land is incomplete and flawed. (Wisconsin Public Radio)
• The Iowa chapter of the Sierra Club and landowners push back against claims in support of a proposed carbon dioxide pipeline. (WHO-13)
GRID:
• A Michigan conservation group calls for an investigation of DTE Energy and Consumers Energy over multiple widespread power outages this year. (Michigan Radio)
• Michigan receives $95 million in federal grants and loans that will in part be used to improve electricity access in rural parts of the state. (Daily Mining Gazette)
• Grid operator MISO faces a looming capacity shortfall in 2024 amid coal plant retirements, according to the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (Utility Dive)
EMISSIONS: The Biden administration finalizes a rule to cut tailpipe emissions from new cars and light trucks. (Washington Post)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• General Motors extends a production halt on its Chevrolet Bolt amid an ongoing recall involving fires with battery modules. (Reuters)
• About $1 million in Volkswagen diesel emission scandal funding remains to install more publicly available electric vehicle chargers in South Dakota. (South Dakota Public Broadcasting)
SOLAR:
• A municipal utility in central Iowa considers buying power from a new solar project that could meet up to 30% of its electricity needs. (Independent Advocate)
• Four solar projects are in varying stages of development in a southern Ohio county. (WKKJ)
EFFICIENCY:
• Kansas City utility Evergy proposes plans for energy efficiency programs that the utility says could save ratepayers $42 million. (Kansas Reflector)
• A recent clean energy policy scorecard produces a mixed bag of results for six Ohio cities as some improved slightly while others held steady or slipped in rankings. (Ohio Capital Journal)
RENEWABLES: A major metro Detroit hospital system will meet about 10% of its future power needs with renewables under a new agreement with DTE Energy. (MLive)
COMMENTARY: An Illinois Institute of Technology researcher says microgrids could change the lives of millions of people worldwide who struggle to access electricity. (Energy News Network)