OHIO: Republican state lawmakers remain divided as hearings resume over whether to repeal, replace or maintain the state’s power plant subsidy law at the center of a corruption scandal. (Columbus Dispatch)
ALSO: An Ohio air quality agency seeks applications for a program that finances clean energy projects on commercial properties. (Energy News Network)
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HYDROGEN: The U.S. Department of Energy awards nearly $14 million to build a hydrogen energy production facility at Xcel Energy’s Prairie Island nuclear plant in Minnesota. (Associated Press)
RENEWABLES: A report from grid operator MISO shows the potential for major wind, solar and battery storage additions by 2025 along with up to 33,000 MW of coal capacity retirements across its 15-state footprint. (S&P Global)
UTILITIES: FirstEnergy’s reliance on coal plants in a region with relatively low levels of renewable energy could make its net-zero carbon emissions goal by 2050 even more challenging. (Greentech Media)
WIND: A proposed 375 MW wind project in rural mid-Michigan draws heated debate among residents over its potential effect on the landscape. (Greenville Daily News)
SOLAR:
• A central Indiana county plans to extend a moratorium on large-scale solar projects for six months as local regulations are developed. (Anderson Herald Bulletin)
• Akron, Ohio, officials consider installing solar panels at the city’s water supply facility to help offset electricity costs. (Akron.com)
GRID:
• Siting new transmission projects along rights-of-ways, highways and railroads, or already developed brownfields could help alleviate some of the challenges to building new projects. (Utility Dive)
• Prohibitively expensive system upgrades needed in MISO’s region that includes Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and the Dakotas could further hinder new clean energy projects there. (RTO Insider, subscription)
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POLICY: President-elect Joe Biden plans to embed climate planning across multiple governmental agencies to try to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. (Washington Post)
COMMENTARY:
• Without new transmission projects, states like Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin will be hindered in achieving long-term carbon reduction targets, clean energy advocates say. (Utility Dive)
• Federal energy researchers say utility programs could expand voluntary renewable energy programs to more customers. (Greentech Media)