OIL & GAS: A series of bills in Ohio would block local governments’ attempts to limit natural gas use and prevent bans on oil and gas pipelines. (Cleveland.com)
ALSO:
• Illinois lawmakers reintroduce legislation to eliminate gas utility surcharges that allow companies to charge customers for infrastructure projects with limited oversight. (Capital News Illinois)
• Ohio’s largest oil and gas producer plans to cut spending this year and hold production at 2020 levels as the industry takes a more conservative financial approach. (Natural Gas Intelligence)
• Kansas natural gas utilities face enormous bills for gas purchases made during last month’s streak of cold weather, leading consumer advocates to call for reforms. (Lawrence Journal-World)
• Officials with Midwest gas utility Spire detail early steps to achieving the company’s net zero carbon emissions goal by 2050. (S&P Global)
RENEWABLES: Southwest Power Pool sets a record renewable energy penetration level at 81%, causing wholesale power prices to dive. (S&P Global)
SOLAR:
• Three of Wisconsin’s largest utilities seek to purchase a 250 MW solar project along with 75 MW of battery storage for $446 million. (Wisconsin State Journal)
• Local officials in western Minnesota advance plans for a 50 MW solar project. (Daily Journal)
• Ohio researchers are part of a team developing new coatings that could allow solar PV cells to last six times longer than normal. (PV Magazine)
WIND: County officials in southwestern Iowa take no action on a proposed wind energy moratorium after finding no evidence that turbines are a public health threat. (KMALand)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Foxconn officials are considering making electric vehicles at the company’s highly anticipated plant in Wisconsin. (Associated Press)
PIPELINES: Actress Jane Fonda joins ongoing protests in Minnesota against the Line 3 replacement and expansion project. (Common Dreams)
UTILITIES: The president of We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service Corp. is stepping down to relocate to Australia for unspecified personal reasons. (Milwaukee Business Journal)
CARBON CAPTURE: Minnesota and North Dakota utilities back new federal legislation that would modernize tax credits to support carbon capture projects. (Daily Energy Insider)
EFFICIENCY: The Illinois attorney general joins a coalition urging the Biden administration to resume updates to appliance energy efficiency standards. (Utility Dive)
COMMENTARY: A Minnesota physician says statewide transportation emission standards would curb vehicle air pollution while still giving consumers choices on new models. (MinnPost)