OIL & GAS: The dispute over the future of a St. Louis-area natural gas pipeline signals a broader debate over natural gas’ role as clean energy advocates push more energy efficiency, electrification and renewables. (Energy News Network)

ALSO:
• Missouri regulators order Spire to issue another letter to St. Louis residents that explains the area’s natural gas availability “as accurately as possible.” (KMOV)
• Black Hills Energy forecasts that natural gas prices for home heating could increase an average of 58% this winter. (Lincoln Journal-Star)

PIPELINES:
• Environmental advocates say Enbridge and Republicans are creating an “echo chamber” with claims that link Democratic officials who oppose the Line 5 pipeline with high energy costs. (Michigan Advance)
• A proposed 2,000-mile pipeline network to transport carbon emissions captured from dozens of Midwest ethanol plants raises concerns among critics over long-term dependency on fossil fuels. (Bloomberg Law)

CLEAN ENERGY: Wisconsin regulators approve settlement agreements between advocacy groups and utilities Alliant Energy and Xcel Energy over increasing rates to pay for clean energy investments. (Wisconsin Public Radio)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Ford cancels plans to develop an electric vehicle with Rivian, which experts say shows Ford’s confidence in its own models. (Detroit News)

UTILITIES: A federal judge cancels a previous order that would have allowed FirstEnergy customers to sue the utility as a class over claims about being wrongly charged for power plant subsidies. (Reuters)

NUCLEAR: The $694 million that Illinois lawmakers approved to keep multiple Exelon nuclear plans open followed negotiations that were a microcosm of the debate over using nuclear plants to keep emissions down. (CNBC)

CLIMATE: U.S. Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota wants to ensure President Biden’s Build Back Better plan includes the “strongest possible climate provisions and what’s important is that we achieve our goals.” (Minnesota Reformer)

SOLAR:
• A four year, $10 million grant will support University of Illinois researchers studying the potential of planting crops alongside solar installations. (Herald-Whig)
• Construction is progressing on an 8.5 MW community solar project in northeastern Nebraska. (KCAU)

BIOFUELS:
• Environmental regulators faced confusion and legal barriers while investigating toxic material that was produced at a former Nebraska ethanol plant, emails show. (Lincoln Journal Star)
• Researchers are working to determine the extent of the harm that the plant’s pesticide contamination had on local bee populations. (Lincoln Journal Star)

COMMENTARY:  Ohio lawmakers should create a permanent oil and gas severance tax fund to spread the prosperity from development among more residents, an official with a nonprofit policy advocacy group writes. (Ohio Capital Journal)

Andy compiles the Midwest Energy News digest and was a journalism fellow for Midwest Energy News from 2014-2020. He is managing editor of MiBiz in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and was formerly a reporter and editor at City Pulse, Lansing’s alternative newsweekly.