CLEAN ENERGY: Michigan House Democrats introduce a series of clean energy bills that include a 100% carbon-free electricity target by 2035, one of the fastest timelines in the country. (MLive)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Fuel retailers say they are better positioned than utilities to build out electric vehicle charging stations to meet forecasted demand over the next decade. (States Newsroom)
• Metro communities in Des Moines, Iowa, are banding together to apply for federal grant funding to build electric vehicle charging stations. (Des Moines Register)
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POLITICS: A new analysis shows that U.S. utilities have made at least $215 million in political contributions to dark money nonprofits in recent years that have helped increase power prices, hinder customer solar programs and elect sympathetic legislators. (The Guardian)
CLIMATE:
• Milwaukee officials consider a citywide climate and equity plan that calls for cutting emissions by 45% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. (Wisconsin Public Radio)
• A former Illinois weatherman who now serves in Congress is using his position to educate the public and fellow lawmakers on climate change. (Politico)
SOLAR:
• A Nebraska county ends a moratorium on commercial solar projects after adopting a series of zoning regulations. (News Channel Nebraska)
• An Ohio solar installer sees increasing customer demand for rooftop installations as power prices continue to climb. (Farm and Dairy)
• Cook County, Illinois, is selected for a $1.1 million federal grant to create a Chicago-area solar collaborative that expands workforce opportunities for minorities. (Daily Herald)
• A Michigan Democrat and environmental attorney discuss the benefits of reintroducing net metering in the state to more fairly compensate rooftop solar customers for their excess power. (WDET)
UTILITIES: Indiana University researchers hope a new dashboard tracking utility disconnections will help protect vulnerable residents with unpaid bills from shut-offs. (Indiana Public Broadcasting)
PIPELINES: A leak late last year from the Keystone pipeline in Kansas raises concerns among landowners about future ruptures. (Kansas Reflector)
NUCLEAR:
• Watchdog groups say ongoing maintenance will be key to helping Minnesota’s nuclear plants safely operate for decades to come and contribute to the state’s carbon-free electricity portfolio. (Star Tribune)
• Local officials say they want more information about a planned nuclear plant in Canada, just across the border from North Dakota. (Bismarck Tribune)
GRID: Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker plans to veto a bill that would give Ameren Illinois first rights to build transmission lines, though he expects lawmakers to reconsider the topic later this year. (Center Square)
COAL: Consumers Energy closes two units at an eastern Michigan coal plant, ahead of the utility’s plan to phase out all coal in 2025. (FOX 17)
COMMENTARY: Michigan’s strong manufacturing sector makes it a “clear beneficiary of the clean energy boom” as state and federal policies aim to speed the clean energy transition, an official with sustainability nonprofit Ceres writes. (Energy News Network)
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