PIPELINES: Line 3 pipeline opponents ask the Minnesota Supreme Court to overturn a lower court decision approving permits from state regulators that allowed construction to start late last year. (Associated Press)
ALSO:
• Gathered in protest at the state Capitol, tribal leaders in Minnesota say the Line 3 project violates their rights under multiple treaties signed in the 1800s. (Minnesota Reformer, MinnPost)
• A new book by a human rights attorney’s new book delves into the nearly year-long protest againstover the Dakota Access pipeline. (Christian Science Monitor)
OIL & GAS: An Ohio agency issues proposed rules to regulate how oil and gas waste facilities manage radioactive fracking waste, which environmental groups called “long overdue.” (Columbus Dispatch)
GRID: Utilities seeking to build a controversial transmission line through Wisconsin want Wisconsinstate regulators to reissue a permit as soon as possible after asking it to be withdrawn when secret text messages came to light. (Wisconsin State Journal)
RENEWABLES:
• Clean energy advocates are cautiously optimistic about Missouri’s transition from fossil fuels after a recent surge in wind farm construction and new legislation to allow refinancing ofe debt on retiring coal plants. (Flatland)
• Solar overtakes wind in the interconnection queues of grid operators MISO and Southwest Power Pool as solar costs continue to decline. (RTO Insider, subscription)
UTILITIES: Critics say Evergy’s $8.9 billion infrastructure plan doesn’t focus enough on transitioning to clean energy. (Kansas Reflector)
SOLAR: Evanston, Illinois’ climate action plan includes a program that allows residents to enroll in community solar projects. (Daily Northwestern)
POLICY: A downstate Illinois mayor raises concerns that a proposed sweeping clean energy bill that would close the state’s coal plants by 2035 would increase rates. (St. Louis Public Radio)
BIOFUELS: A bipartisan group of farm-state congressional lawmakers introduces legislation to allow year-round sales of ethanol. (Des Moines Register)
CLIMATE: Environmental groups say Democrats’ sweeping $3.5 billion budget plan would make “transformational investments” in clean energy. (Associated Press)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Federal regulators urge about 50,000 owners of GM’s electric Chevrolet Bolt to park their vehicles outside and away from homes after charging because of fire risks. (Reuters)
COMMENTARY: An Iowa GOP congressman says he is “proud” to defend the state as a leader in renewable energy. (Sioux City Journal)