SOLAR: A surge in community solar proposals and interconnection requests in Minnesota intensifies renewable energy developers’ complaints about costs and delays when attempting to connect with Xcel Energy’s system. (Energy News Network)
ALSO:
• Local officials approve plans for a 1 MW community solar project in southwestern Minnesota, though interconnection delays may stall the project. (Marshall Independent)
• A 127.5 MW solar project in Iowa, the state’s largest, began commercial operations last month. (Solar Power World)
• Subscriptions are now available for the public to join a 1.4 MW community solar project in southeastern Minnesota. (Northfield News)
• A 2.1 MW solar project is expected to save a northern Illinois county about $160,000 a year in electricity costs over the life of the project. (Solar Builder)
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OIL & GAS:
• Ohio officials estimate that it could take decades to cap upwards of 100,000 abandoned oil and gas wells in the state. (Checks & Balances Project)
• About 3,000 barrels of water used in oil and gas production leaked from a North Dakota pipeline that officials say likely had external corrosion. (Inforum)
COAL: The head of the United Mine Workers of America is skeptical that a “just transition” from coal is possible as the Biden administration plans to announce more aggressive emission-reduction targets. (Ohio Valley ReSource)
CLIMATE: Minnesota’s most populous county approves an updated climate action plan that includes more than 200 strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (Star Tribune)
WIND: DTE Energy takes ownership of 455 MW of wind power across three projects in Michigan, two of which are the state’s largest. (North American Windpower)
RENEWABLES: A Minnesota municipal utility plans to purchase renewable energy credits to reach 100% net zero carbon emissions this year. (Hutchinson Leader)
BIOFUELS: Cargill and Love’s form a joint venture that includes building a new biodiesel plant in Nebraska and marketing renewable fuels across the U.S. (Reuters)
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ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Consumers Energy plans to issue rebates for 200 fast-charging electric vehicle stations in Michigan by 2024. (MiBiz)
COMMENTARY: Ohio needs community solar legislation to help rural residents maintain their property while earning a steady income, a family farmer writes. (Cleveland.com)