OIL & GAS: Michigan lawmakers propose a $250 million “natural gas expansion fund” that utilities could tap into for projects that expand service to underserved areas of the state. (Energy News Network)
PIPELINES:
• The Dakota Access pipeline operator plans to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in the company’s ongoing legal dispute to keep the line open. (Reuters)
• Minnesota regulators decline to investigate whether the increased volume of oil Enbridge moves through Minnesota pipelines affects the need for a Line 3 expansion. (Star Tribune)
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SOLAR:
• Wisconsin regulators approve a $250 million, 200 MW solar project while acknowledging land use concerns. (Wisconsin State Journal)
• State regulators also appoint a committee to advise the agency on potential rule changes involving rooftop solar and other customer-owned power generation. (Wisconsin State Journal)
• An Indiana solar developer eyes designated opportunity zones that provide tax advantages in underserved areas for solar and storage projects. (Inside Indiana Business)
• An economic analysis will consider the local revenue impacts of a planned 375 MW solar project in Ohio. (LimaOhio.com)
CLEAN ENERGY:
• The Ohio Supreme Court orders the Columbus City Council to revisit an initiated ordinance that would direct $87 million to various clean energy projects. (Columbus Dispatch)
• Michigan advocates say President Biden’s $2 trillion infrastructure plan largely aligns with the state’s clean energy and climate change priorities. (Metro Times)
• The University of Notre Dame is recognized for its recent investments in solar, hydroelectric and geothermal to help meet its energy needs. (ABC 57)
TRANSPORTATION: Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker rewrites former Gov. Bruce Rauner’s plan to spend Volkswagen settlement funds, instead prioritizing nearly $90 million largely for electrified public transit and school buses and infrastructure. (Chicago Sun-Times)
UTILITIES: Xcel Energy continues to make progress on its emission-reduction and renewable energy targets in Minnesota and Colorado, utility officials report in a quarterly earnings call. (S&P Global)
WIND: Ameren Missouri showcases a 400 MW wind project that it bought in December and is now fully operational. (Kirksville Daily Express)
GRID: Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signs a bill into law that requires utilities to communicate with residents before installing power lines. (Wichita Eagle)
BIOFUELS: An Iowa bill backed by Gov. Kim Reynolds that would create a statewide renewable fuel standard faces skepticism from some key lawmakers. (Des Moines Register)
COMMENTARY:
• Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s clean energy plan released this week has several positive features but falls short of targets proposed under the Clean Energy Jobs Act, an editorial board says. (Chicago Sun-Times)
• Minnesota’s proposed clean car standard would benefit rural residents in particular while opposition is being drummed up primarily by car dealerships and the fossil fuel industry, a climate advocate writes. (Duluth News Tribune)