UTILITIES: A public advocacy group’s report says ComEd has dragged its feet on offering tools or programs to help Illinois customers unlock savings from smart meters. (Energy News Network)
PIPELINES: A Minnesota agency approves the final permit needed for Enbridge to start construction on the Line 3 replacement and expansion in northern Minnesota. (Star Tribune)
OHIO:
• An Ohio bill would halt most large-scale solar and wind energy development for up to three years, which critics say reflects a continued hostility toward renewable energy among some state lawmakers. (Energy News Network)
• The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio begins the process of replacing former Chairman Sam Randazzo after he resigned last month. (Cleveland.com)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: GM scales back a planned partnership with Nikola that includes scrapping plans to manufacture the EV startup’s battery powered pickup truck. (Bloomberg)
SOLAR:
• South Dakota regulators approve plans for a 128 MW solar project, which will be the state’s largest. (KNBN)
• Invenergy is developing plans for a 300 MW solar project in southwestern Ohio. (News Journal)
• A North Dakota public school’s career academy includes a new focus on training students in solar energy. (Bismarck Tribune)
• Kansas is among states with upcoming major regulatory decisions on rate design that will affect rooftop solar customers. (E&E News, subscription)
• A member of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa says “solar is bringing a different kind of energy to Red Lake — more than anything gaming could ever do.” (MinnPost)
• A $100 million housing development planned in Ann Arbor, Michigan, includes plans for onsite solar and to be serviced entirely by electricity instead of including natural gas. (MLive)
CLIMATE:
• Advocates say President-elect Joe Biden’s climate plans could help shape Wisconsin’s clean energy development and transition from fossil fuels. (Wisconsin Public Radio)
• U.S. Rep. Sean Casten of Illinois says federal climate policies should “better allocate” the economic benefits of clean energy to benefit both consumers and investors. (RTO Insider, subscription)