FINANCE: Missouri lawmakers approve reforms to its property assessed clean energy (PACE) program that has disproportionately burdened borrowers in predominantly Black neighborhoods. (ProPublica)
BIOGAS: California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard adopted in 2009 is helping to drive renewable natural gas projects in the Midwest, primarily based on the strength of the dairy industry. (Energy News Network)
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EMISSIONS:
• North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum calls for the state to be carbon neutral by 2030 while maintaining oil and gas operations, largely through carbon capture and storage. (Dickinson Press)
• Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s long term energy plan calling for 100% carbon-free power by 2050 gets its first legislative hearing. (Capitol News Service)
COAL: Ohio’s consumer watchdog calls for the repeal of coal plant subsidies that were included in the state’s scandal-tainted power plant bailout law. (Statehouse News Bureau)
SOLAR:
• Kansas is among the places where solar companies say utilities are challenging to the industry by attempting to impose new fees on rooftop solar customers. (The Guardian)
• Ameren Missouri is partnering with the St. Louis Habitat for Humanity to install several neighborhood solar projects. (KMOV)
UTILITIES: FirstEnergy is exploring selling off the assets of some of its subsidiaries after its role in a power plant bailout scandal damaged its financial position. (Reuters)
RENEWABLES: Ohio legislation that would give local governments authority to approve wind and solar projects gets a major rewrite that would let townships set aside certain areas for development. (Farm and Dairy)
EFFICIENCY: Missouri researchers are using fiber optic sensors to save energy and lower the costs of steel production. (Centered)
PIPELINES:
• Enbridge and U.S. and Canadian business groups argue that shutting down the Line 5 pipeline would trigger energy emergencies in both countries similar to what has played out during the Colonial pipeline’s closure from a cyberattack. (Crain’s Detroit Business)
• Wednesday marked the first of several days of protests planned near the Straits of Mackinac over Enbridge’s continued operation of Line 5. (Michigan Radio)
• The CEO of the Dakota Access pipeline owner says the project has also faced unsuccessful cyberattacks, which are a growing threat to the pipeline industry. (Bismarck Tribune)
NUCLEAR: A Wisconsin nuclear plant sold to a new owner will be decommissioned in 10 years instead of the 40 to 50 years that was originally planned. (Green Bay Press Gazette)
OIL & GAS:
• Ohio is among 23 states considering legislation to preempt cities from limiting new or existing natural gas hookups. (Marietta Times)
• Ohio House lawmakers pass a budget bill that includes language to “promote” oil and gas development, exploration and production while making it easier to lease mineral rights on state land. (Farm and Dairy)
WIND: A company advances plans to invest $250 million to repower an Illinois wind project, which is expected to boost output by 60% by the end of 2022. (Windpower Engineering & Development)
TRANSPORTATION: A business coalition urges Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to join an agreement with other states to ensure at least 30% of all new trucks and buses sold by 2030 are zero emissions. (E&E News, subscription)
COMMENTARY: Despite Minnesota’s large Democratic base, the state’s fossil fuel industry continues to have a strong influence on public policy, a climate advocate says. (Minnesota Reformer)