Keep up with energy-related developments in the Great Lakes area with Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.
Click on the headline to read the full story:
Illinois
How Midwest Landowners Helped to Derail One of the Biggest CO2 Pipelines Ever Proposed — Inside Climate News
A retired professor in Illinois helped build a coalition of landowners that were ultimately successful in fighting the development of a five-state carbon pipeline.
Illinois EV car rebates up to $4,000 are now available — FOX2
Applications are now open through January in Illinois for up to $4,000 rebates for electric passenger cars and $1,500 for electric motorcycles.
Illinois Senate passes bill lifting ban on next-generation nuclear reactors — WICS
The Illinois Senate passes a bill to lift the state’s moratorium on new nuclear plant construction but only apply to plants up to 300 MW in capacity.
Indiana
Canadian Solar to open 5 GW solar cell factory in Indiana — PV Magazine
A Canadian solar panel manufacturer will invest $800 million in a new Indiana plant that will produce up to 20,000 solar modules per day.
DeKalb County Commissioners halt solar-farm plan with Monday’s vote — WPTA
An Indiana county commission narrowly rejects plans for a commercial solar project after considering the plan for more than two years.
Indiana makes a dent in plugging abandoned oil, gas wells due to federal grant — WFYI
Since receiving $25 million in federal infrastructure funding last year, Indiana has plugged 200 orphan oil and gas wells compared to roughly 15 to 20 wells a year previously.
New solar park opens in Washington — Washington Times Herald
The Indiana Municipal Power Agency completes a nearly 10 MW solar project that officials say will help it transition from coal and avoid increasing rates.
Michigan
New community center provides Detroit neighborhood with a climate refuge — Energy News Network
A new solar-powered community center in Detroit also serves as a climate resiliency hub where residents can go for resources and basic needs during weather emergencies.
Who Were the Worst of the Worst Climate Polluters in 2022? — Inside Climate News
Coal and fuel oil power plants in Missouri, Michigan and Ohio rank among the country’s largest climate polluters, according to a new analysis of federal data.
Utility campaign giving nears $500K as Michigan lawmakers weigh energy bills — Energy and Policy Institute
Political action groups tied to Michigan’s two largest utilities contributed nearly $500,000 this year to lawmakers as major clean energy bills work through the legislature.
Michigan has the most clean energy workers in the Midwest, report finds — Michigan Radio
Michigan now ranks fifth in the nation for clean energy jobs, which grew by nearly 5% in the state last year, according to a recent report.
Company approved to decommission Palisades nuclear plant now considering small reactor there — Michigan Radio
The owner of a shuttered Michigan nuclear plant seeks guidance from federal regulators on how to proceed with permits to build a small reactor on the site.
Environmental advocates cheer energy efficiency improvements amid DTE settlement — Michigan Advance
Detroit-based DTE Energy reaches an agreement with environmental groups that will speed up energy efficiency investments in low-income neighborhoods.
BWL changes to time of use rates for all utility customers — WILX
Michigan’s largest municipal utility switches all customers to time of use rates in what officials call industry best practices to avoid straining the power grid during peak demand periods.
Who should have land-use authority in green energy projects? — Route Fifty
Moving permitting control to state regulators has drawn fierce opposition from local officials, though backers say developers would still need to work with local governments when pursuing projects.
Michigan Poised to Join States Requiring 100 Percent Clean Electricity — Inside Climate News
Sweeping clean energy bills headed to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer make concessions to large utilities and heavy industry at the expense of environmental justice communities, activists say.
‘They don’t own their view’: Michigan farmers seek state control of renewables — MLive
Despite GOP and local government criticism, some Michigan farmers say opponents shouldn’t get to decide whether landowners lease their land for renewable energy production.
Montrose Township voters approve ordinance regulating solar farms — WJRT
Voters in an eastern Michigan township narrowly approve a zoning ordinance that would allow for the development of a $200 million solar project.
‘Disruptive’ to farmland? Fort Gratiot commission rejects 900-acre solar project — Times Herald
Eastern Michigan township officials rejected a developer’s 900-acre solar project after residents raised concerns about removing farmland from production.
State to launch climate corps to help Michigan decarbonize — MLive
Michigan opens enrollment in a statewide climate corps program that will bring climate action planning expertise to local communities.
Why Michigan’s Clean Energy Bill Is a Really Big Deal — Inside Climate News
Compared to Minnesota and Illinois, Michigan’s planned clean energy shift may be the most ambitious given its starting point with more fossil fuels, according to a clean energy analyst.
UPDATED: Coal ash at Erickson Power Plant sparks concerns —WLNS
Residents living near a recently retired coal plant in Lansing raise concerns about potential groundwater contamination as the plant owner continues coal ash remediation.
UAW strike ends: Higher pay, more EV worries, tighter margins for Big Three — Bridge
General Motors, Ford and Stellantis will need to contemplate how higher labor costs affects their electric vehicle manufacturing strategies to compete with nonunion companies like Tesla.
Minnesota
Minneapolis raises utility fees to fund climate plan in first big step toward implementation — MinnPost
Minneapolis’ city council approves higher gas and electric utility franchise fees starting in January that should raise $10 million annually to help fund implementation of the city’s climate equity plan.
Minnesota DNR gives Twin Metals green light for exploratory drilling near Boundary Waters — MinnPost
A Minnesota agency approves a company’s request to perform exploratory drilling for nickel, cobalt and other minerals near the Boundary Waters.
Mixing solar and farming could be key to clean energy future — MPR
A Minnesota pilot project aims to demonstrate the potential to grow crops alongside utility-scale solar projects.
UMN’s Solar Vehicle Project earns second place in World Solar Challenge — Minnesota Daily
A University of Minnesota team wins second place in a week-long, 1,800-mile, solar-powered car race in Australia.
Ohio
Judge refuses to dismiss lawsuit from neighbors worried about contamination at former Beckjord site — WCPO
A federal judge refuses to dismiss a lawsuit brought by more than 100 landowners seeking to address concerns about buried coal ash and groundwater contamination at a former Ohio coal plant.
Hydroelectric plants used by BG for diversified power supply portfolio, get $8 million in incentive funding — BG Independent
Four hydroelectric plants on the Ohio River that Bowling Green, Ohio, relies on for electricity receive $8 million in federal infrastructure funding.
New Program to Support Energy Efficiency in Ohio Communities — Business Journal
A $3.1 million Ohio grant program will help low-income communities pay for energy-efficient streetlights and lighting on other municipal properties.
New program to support energy efficiency in Ohio communities — Coshocton Tribune
An Ohio conservation district seeks to acquire 625 acres of reclaimed coal mining land to build a contiguous preservation area for hunting, fishing and hiking.
County: No solar, wind farms in Green — Vindicator
An eastern Ohio township will ban commercial wind and solar projects based on local opposition to a proposed development.
Wisconsin
Fire ‘blanket’ sold by Wisconsin company aims to stop electric vehicle fires — WISN
A Wisconsin company plans to sell fire suppression blankets designed specifically to combat electric vehicle fires.
Electric vehicle charging legislation is urgent in Wisconsin, with federal funds at stake — Energy News Network
Wisconsin could lose out on millions in federal charging infrastructure funding if the state doesn’t pass legislation allowing owners of public chargers to bill drivers per kilowatt-hour of use.
Wisconsin’s largest utility moves up plans to stop using coal as a fuel source — Wisconsin Public Radio
The parent company of two major Wisconsin utilities plans to eliminate coal use by 2032, three years earlier than previously planned, and invest $1.4 billion in renewables over the next five years.
PSC reduces MG&E electric rate increase, won’t change how home solar users are compensated — Wisconsin Examiner
Wisconsin regulators reject Madison Gas and Electric’s request to eliminate net metering and change how residential customers are compensated for their excess solar power.
Regulators cut rate increase for Wisconsin Power and Light, put off decision on coal plant — Wisconsin Examiner
Wisconsin regulators reject another utility’s request to end net metering in exchange for a program that compensates customers less for excess solar power sent to the grid.
National
Not just gas stoves: GOP widens assault on energy efficiency — E&E News
Congressional GOP lawmakers expand their effort to stop perceived threats to gas stoves with a bill to block federal agencies from adopting new rules supporting energy-efficient appliances.
IRA clean energy projects could create 403,000 jobs: E2 report — Utility Dive
The large-scale clean energy projects in the year after the Inflation Reduction Act was passed could add 403,000 new jobs and grow U.S. GDP by up to $156 billion, according to a new report.
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