CLEAN ENERGY: Direct-pay tax credits in the federal Inflation Reduction Act will help Michigan nonprofits, places of worship and municipal governments more easily access clean energy incentives. (Bridge Michigan)
AIR QUALITY: Canadian wildfires have fueled record-breaking poor air quality in the Twin Cities, putting a damper on some residents’ summer plans, though this week’s air quality alert is due to ground-level ozone pollution. (Pioneer Press)
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Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition Accepting Applications for Funding
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SOLAR: An Illinois school begins construction on a 3-acre, on-campus solar project that could slash its electricity bills in half. (Herald & Review)
NUCLEAR:
• The University of Michigan receives $7.5 million in federal funding for several research projects related to nuclear energy development. (Detroit News)
• The owner of an Ohio nuclear plant about 20 miles east of Cleveland seeks regulatory approval to extend the life of the plant by 20 years, from 2026 to 2046. (Crain’s Cleveland Business, subscription)
UTILITIES:
• FirstEnergy’s new CEO says the company has “done a great job” of putting the state’s largest bribery scandal, in which the company admitted to playing a key role, behind it. (Statehouse News Bureau)
• The president and CEO of AES Indiana is leaving the utility at the end of this month to lead a renewable energy company. (Inside Indiana Business)
COAL: The U.S. Department of Energy is offering $32 million in funding to study ways to extract rare earth metals and critical minerals from coal or coal waste to diversify the domestic supply. (Utility Dive)
CARBON CAPTURE:
• South Dakota regulators begin public hearings on a carbon pipeline proposal, while hearings on a separate project will take place in the coming months. (KELO)
• Attorneys representing a South Dakota county say state regulators should decide whether a carbon pipeline is allowed before ruling on the legality of countywide zoning restrictions. (KELO)
CLIMATE:
• More than 110 congressional Democrats call on President Biden to enact a standard that gives workers protection during extreme heat. (Common Dreams)
• Widespread heatwaves in the Northern Hemisphere this summer will become more common in the coming decades unless emissions are immediately curtailed, experts warn. (Inside Climate News)
COMMENTARY: A farmer and carbon pipeline supporter says projects to divert carbon emissions from ethanol plants to underground storage sites will help drive economic activity in farming communities. (Messenger)
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