HYDROGEN:
• Seven Midwest states partner to accelerate the development of hydrogen as a clean energy alternative for vehicles and factories. (Associated Press)
• A company plans to begin producing emissions-free hydrogen at an Xcel Energy nuclear plant in Minnesota starting in 2024. (Utility Dive)
GRID: Critics say regional grid operators have been caught flat footed amid the widespread shift to clean energy, creating bottlenecks as renewable energy projects seek to come online. (Missouri Independent)
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SOLAR:
• The Indiana Supreme Court heard oral arguments last week in a case involving a utility’s rooftop solar program that critics say discourages adoption among customers. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
• Ohio regulators in the coming months will consider a proposed 280 MW solar project northwest of Columbus. (Union County Daily Digital)
• The number of U.S. schools generating solar power has more than doubled over the last seven years as districts seek long-term cost savings. (Grist)
• Illinois opens applications for the next round of its recently expanded state incentive program for rooftop and community solar projects. (WAND)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• A small, rural Illinois school district plans to replace all six of its buses with electric models that are powered by onsite solar panels. (K-12 Dive)
• Automakers engaged in a “range war” for electric vehicles consider the potential for adding energy storage capacity to vehicles. (Utility Dive)
BIOFUELS: The president of the South Dakota Farmers Union expresses concern about the stability of the state’s ethanol market amid the transition to electric vehicles. (South Dakota Public Broadcasting)
PIPELINES:
• A rural Iowa county will hire an outside attorney to help craft a hazardous liquids pipeline ordinance as a developer seeks to build a carbon pipeline through the area. (Waverly Newspapers)
• Local officials consider a 2020 carbon pipeline rupture in Mississippi that sickened dozens of people as they consider the public health implications of proposed projects in Iowa. (KTIV)
CLIMATE: Experts say Republican state officials who are targeting environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing are limiting options for generating financial returns for their constituents. (Ohio Capital Journal)
OIL & GAS: The owner of one of Illinois’ largest natural gas plants wins a temporary injunction blocking the state from enforcing emission restrictions under the state’s year-old clean energy law. (Crain’s Chicago Business, subscription)
CLEAN ENERGY: A North Dakota commission approves more than $15 million in grants for three energy projects, including low-carbon hydrogen facilities and geothermal-powered oil and gas production. (Bismarck Tribune)
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COMMENTARY:
• Authors of a new climate solutions book say local activism to pull “hidden levers of power,” such as at school boards and utility commissions, can lead to broader action from government officials. (Energy News Network)
• A nonprofit official says a proposed sulfide mine in northern Minnesota would add to the state’s carbon footprint and spread contamination. (MinnPost)
• As Michigan regulators seek to fast-track utility clean energy pilot programs, transparency, engagement and opportunities for collaboration will be key in determining their effectiveness, advocates say. (Union of Concerned Scientists)
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