ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Xcel Energy sets an electric vehicle investment target that would help deploy hundreds of thousands of EVs across its eight-state service area by 2030. (Denver Post)

RENEWABLES: An Indiana utility issues a request for proposals for large-scale wind, solar and solar-plus-storage projects that can come online by 2023 in order to meet customer demand. (Evansville Courier & Press)

***SPONSORED LINK: The ESA Annual Energy Storage Conference & Expo (#ESACon20) is a true 360-degree conference experience – gone digital. Featuring one-on-one conversations and interactions, group discussion, demos of real projects and more. Use discount code ENN2020VTL for 5% off.***

UTILITIES:
• FirstEnergy’s political action committee has contributed nearly $500,000 to lawmakers in Ohio Valley states over the past year. (Ohio Valley ReSource)
• Cleveland’s city council unanimously votes to investigate whether efforts around the power plant bailout scheme were meant to harm the city’s municipal utility. (Cleveland.com)

GRID: Utilities in Illinois and elsewhere are employing a range of strategies to prevent grid outages caused by wildlife and overgrown foliage. (Energy News Network) 

COAL: MidAmerican Energy could save customers $92 million by closing two coal plants near Sioux City by 2023, according to a Sierra Club analysis. (Sioux City Journal)

SOLAR:
• A 239 MW solar project set to come online later this year in eastern Michigan comes during what one developer calls the “beginning of a solar boom in the Midwest.” (MLive)
• Another developer also anticipates a solar boom in states like Indiana and Michigan. (NUVO)
• Experts say recycling strategies are needed as a solar panel e-waste glut is expected in the coming years. (Grist)

CLEAN ENERGY:
• The clean energy industry saw modest job recovery in July but companies are far from recovering job losses since the start of the pandemic, according to an analysis of employment data. (Bloomberg Law)
• Dozens of mayors across 25 states call on Congress to extend wind and solar tax credits, expand incentives for electric vehicles and energy efficiency and create new tax credits for energy storage. (Solar Power World)

CLIMATE: Dozens of student and community organizations call on Purdue University to commit to a 2030 carbon neutrality target along with other climate goals. (Indiana Environmental Reporter)

***SPONSORED LINK: Register today for emPOWER20 August 26-28, emPOWER is a virtual experience with 30 sessions and 40+ hours of content designed to foster a new kind of energy leadership. Join experts across the clean energy industry in finance, policy, and technology.*** 

POLITICS: A consequential U.S. Senate race in Iowa could hinge on the candidates’ allegiance to the biofuel industry. (E&E News, subscription)

COMMENTARY:
• Advocates say Xcel Energy’s long-term energy plan would improve with more dependence on solar and energy efficiency incentives instead of plans for a major natural gas project. (MinnPost)
• Policymakers should ensure fossil fuel-dependent communities and workers benefit from the transition to clean energy, environmental advocates say. (Environmental Defense Fund)