CLEAN TECH: Xcel Energy receives a $10.5 million federal grant to build a pilot hydrogen production plant at one of its two Minnesota nuclear facilities. (Star Tribune)
PIPELINES:
• Federal officials move forward with a court-ordered environmental review of the Dakota Access pipeline and will consider the developer’s plan to nearly double its capacity, which gained approval this week from Illinois regulators. (Bismarck Tribune)
• Following anchor strikes on Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac, Michigan lawmakers seek to ban large boats from dropping anchors in the area. (Bridge Michigan)
***SPONSORED LINK: The University of Minnesota Law, Policy, and Business Conference on Equity and Electrification of Transportation, Friday, October 23, from 10 am – 2:30 pm, will discuss broader reforms to our transportation systems through the lens of law, policy, and business. Register here. ***
SOLAR:
• Ameren Illinois says its position on net metering hasn’t changed and it is prepared to issue credits to customers with new solar installations if state regulators order its original net metering program to stay in place. (PV Magazine)
• An Illinois college plans to install solar panels on two acres of campus as well as several rooftops to offset its energy usage. (Lake County Journal)
• Kansas regulators will hold a public hearing next month on proposed rate design changes for residential utility customers with solar installations. (WIBW)
OHIO: A lobbyist charged in the federal corruption investigation surrounding power plant subsidies believes the government’s case against him was built in part on secret recordings made involving a separate policy issue. (Cleveland.com)
STORAGE: Construction begins on Alliant Energy’s 2.5 MW battery storage project in northeastern Iowa. (Decorah News)
TRANSMISSION: Grid operator MISO releases a new transmission planning study that officials say will “facilitate the efficient use of new resources” on the grid. (RTO Insider, subscription)
EMISSIONS: Experts see a major challenge ahead in maintaining deep emission cuts that were seen this year due to the pandemic. (InsideClimate News)
COMMENTARY: A Michigan physician applauds Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “bold environmental and human health initiative” to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. (Bridge Michigan)