PIPELINES: Wisconsin officials order Enbridge to investigate the extent of contamination from a 2019 pipeline spill that leaked more than 1,200 gallons of petroleum products. (Wisconsin State Journal)
ALSO:
• Indigenous youth activists call on the Biden administration to cancel the Line 3 and Dakota Access pipelines. (DeSmog)
• Exxon Mobil files a breach of contract lawsuit against Energy Transfer over disputed payments for the Dakota Access pipeline. (Reuters)
***SPONSORED LINK: On April 9, join U.S. Sen. Tina Smith and climate leaders for a conversation about how Congress can pass a meaningful climate and infrastructure package that delivers good paying clean energy jobs, and provides the path to 100% clean electricity by 2035. Presented by Fresh Energy.***
SUSTAINABILITY: A planned $3.6 billion redevelopment planned along Chicago’s Near South Side lakeshore focuses on equity and sustainability with a mix of affordable housing and a highly efficient pavilion. (Energy News Network)
SOLAR:
• Clean energy advocates say advertising from nonprofits closely linked to Michigan’s largest utilities is misleading about legislation to expand rooftop solar programs. (Interlochen Public Radio)
• County officials in northwestern Indiana adopt new setback and screening requirements for solar projects, though one official says they could be too restrictive. (WKVI)
• Sixteen landowners have signed leases for a large-scale solar project still under development in mid-Michigan. (Greenville Daily News)
• Alliant Energy partners with local officials to build a 1 MW solar project on a central Iowa brownfield property. (Solar Power World)
FINANCE: Missouri is among just three states to offer residential property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing, which consumer advocates say can take the form of predatory loans for low-income homeowners. (Bloomberg Green)
RENEWABLES: U.S. local governments set a record for renewable energy purchases in 2020 with 143 transactions, up 19% from the year before, according to an analysis. (Utility Dive)
TRANSMISSION: Disjointed transmission planning, including in the Midwest and Great Plains, is blocking renewable energy development that’s needed to decarbonize the power grid, according to a new analysis. (E&E News, subscription)
CLEAN ENERGY: North Dakota lawmakers consider multiple proposals to provide revenue for a clean energy fund supporting technologies to reduce emissions. (Bismarck Tribune)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: A South Dakota agency wants 15% of the state’s Volkswagen settlement funds to help pay for more electric vehicle fast-charging stations. (KELO)
***SPONSORED LINK: What does the future hold as the U.S. accelerates its transition to clean energy? Join the Energy News Network on April 22 for a conversation about what’s next for coal country. Register today!***
INFRASTRUCTURE: GOP officials increasingly voice criticism over President Biden’s infrastructure plan for not focusing specifically on oil and gas pipelines. (HuffPost)
COMMENTARY: A U.S. power macrogrid could interconnect regions with strong energy resources to areas with high demand, says an Iowa State University engineering researcher. (The Conversation)