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
Black-led Chicago nonprofit sees cycling as a tool for building healthy communities — Energy News Network
A Black-led Chicago nonprofit seeks to break down systemic barriers that have pushed communities of color away from non-motorized transportation options.
Proposed solar farm in Mercer County drawing frustration with neighbors — WQAD
Plans for a $55 million, 380-acre solar project in northwestern Illinois experiences pushback from nearby residents.
Black Peoples Gas workers say in lawsuit they’ve faced discrimination working for the Chicago utility — Chicago Sun-Times
Eleven current and former employees at Chicago-based Peoples Gas file a federal lawsuit alleging Black workers faced discrimination while on the job.
New discount rate system a ‘game changer’ for Chicagoans struggling with heating bills, advocates say — Chicago Sun-Times
A new discount rate system approved by Illinois regulators as part of that decision is expected to reduce utility shut-offs in lower-income neighborhoods, consumer and environmental justice advocates say.
Concerns grow over toxic Taylorville site — WAND-TV
“What are you going to do to protect us?” A central Illinois community complains about odors and raises concerns about drinking water near a former manufactured gas plant owned by utility Ameren.
More than a dozen Illinois schools add EVs to driver’s ed — Yale Climate Connections
A ComEd grant program has allowed more than a dozen Illinois schools to buy electric cars and chargers for driver’s ed programs.
Indiana
BP completes $100 million Fowler Ridge wind farm upgrade — Times of Northwest Indiana
BP completes a $100 million upgrade to an Indiana wind project, installing larger turbine blades that produce 40% more power.
AES Indiana wanted a big rate hike. A new settlement could spare Hoosiers’ monthly bills. — Indianapolis Star
AES Indiana announces a settlement with customer advocates that would limit a potential rate increase to about half of its initial proposal.
Indiana climate groups push renewable energy as coal use drops — Great Lakes Echo
Indiana’s power generation portfolio has dropped from 90% coal in 2010 to 58% coal in 2021 as advocates there continue to push for a clean energy transition.
Preparing for the green economy: Michigan City resident launching a job training and education program for minorities — Times of Northwest Indiana
Northwest Indiana organizers create a nonprofit to work on diversifying the renewable energy workforce through community education and job training programs.
Michigan
Detroit touts first wireless-charging public road for electric vehicles in US — Detroit Free Press
Officials in Detroit unveil a newly paved, quarter-mile section of road that will wirelessly charge electric vehicles as they drive over it, a first-of-its-kind public demonstration project.
UAW launches bid to organize Tesla and ‘entire non-union auto sector’ in US — Reuters
After big contract gains from the Detroit Three, the UAW announces plans to publicly organize the entire non-union U.S. auto sector, including workers at electric vehicle makers Tesla and Rivian.
Ski resort takes plea to Consumers Energy public after power outages hamper snowmaking — Crain’s Detroit Business
A northern Michigan ski resort issues a public plea for Consumers Energy to upgrade aging power lines as recent non-weather-related outages have hampered the resort’s ability to make snow ahead of the season.
Michigan first state in Midwest to set power storage benchmark — MLive
New clean energy bills make Michigan the first Midwest state with energy storage targets, which are set at 2,500 MW by 2030.
Jackson Public Schools signs agreement for cheaper energy from incoming solar farm — MLive
A central Michigan school district signs a 25-year agreement to purchase power at discounted, fixed rates from a commercial solar project.
Discuss Michigan’s climate plan at EGLE event — WOOD
Michigan officials will host the first in a series of events Thursday in Grand Rapids to gather input on implementing the state’s new climate plan.
Changes in rain patterns create water challenges for farmers — Great Lakes Echo
Changes in seasonal weather patterns are creating problems for Michigan farmers, highlighting their vulnerability to climate change.
Whitmer signs energy bills to make Michigan use clean energy by 2040 — Bridge
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs a sweeping bill package that includes a 100% clean energy target by 2040 and shifts authority over wind and solar projects from local governments to state regulators.
Michigan bet billions on EV jobs. But delays, layoffs may diminish returns — Bridge
Michigan’s investment of billions of dollars in public funding for electric vehicle and battery plants may see diminished returns as Detroit automakers and manufacturers scale back or stall plans.
GM believes it will start making money on electric vehicles in 2025 as higher margin models arrive — Associated Press
General Motors’ chief financial officer expects the automaker to start making a profit on electric vehicle sales in 2025 as it produces higher-margin models.
Enbridge Line 5 tunnel plan approved by Michigan utility regulators — MLive
Michigan regulators approve Enbridge’s plan to build a tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac for its Line 5 oil pipeline, calling it the best option to meet energy need and protect Great Lakes waters.
‘Another notch in a long history of ignoring the rights of Tribal Nations’ — Native News Online
The Bay Mills Indian Community condemns Michigan’s decision, calling it “another notch in a long history of ignoring the rights of Tribal Nations.”
Pipeline politics await Biden in Michigan — E&E News
Michigan residents share concerns about Enbridge’s planned Line 5 tunnel, which could become an election issue as critics call on the Biden administration to halt the proposal.
Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority discuss Line 5 risk management plan — WLUC
A Michigan panel that will oversee the construction of a tunnel for the Line 5 pipeline also will assess the potential risk of the tunnel’s construction and operation.
Waste digester threatens to close over Michigan groundwater permit — MLive
A Michigan anaerobic digestion facility that produces 2.8 MW of renewable energy threatens to close next month over what the owners call burdensome new state regulations on the plant’s fertilizer byproduct.
DTE monthly rates to jump by 6.4% on Dec. 15 to fund clean energy — Bridge
Michigan regulators approve a 6.4% rate increase for DTE Energy that the company says it needs to pay for grid improvements and clean energy.
Whitmer signs directive transitioning the state’s fleet to zero emission vehicles by 2040 — Michigan Advance
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs an executive order to convert 100% of the state’s fleet to zero-emission vehicles by 2040.
New scrutiny challenges Michigan’s investment in Gotion EV battery plant — Bridge
A Michigan township board rescinds its support for a proposed electric vehicle battery factory three weeks after a recall election unseated five members amid criticism of the company’s Chinese ownership.
Will Energy From Manure Help or Harm Water Quality in Michigan? — Circle of Blue
Michigan has emerged as the largest center of manure biodigesters outside of California, but as farmers and utilities embrace the technology, some are unsure what it means for the state’s water quality.
Minnesota
Renville County voices concerns over possible power line route in southwestern Minnesota — West Central Tribune
A Minnesota county raises concerns about a proposed transmission line route that leaders say could harm agricultural land.
Lake Superior, known for icy waters, one of the fastest warming lakes in the world — WCCO
Minnesota researchers say Lake Superior is one of the fastest-warming lakes in the world, raising concerns about algal blooms and other problems.
Ohio
C&BP seeks identities of PUCO staffers who recommended HB6 audit protective order — Checks and Balances Project
An investigative news outlet seeks the identities of Ohio regulatory staff members who backed a plan to label publicly available information as trade secrets as part of investigation into the HB 6 scandal.
One-of-a-kind solar project underway in Delaware County — WCMH
Crews are assembling a first-of-its-kind floating solar project that will eventually cover a water treatment reservoir north of Columbus, Ohio.
Opponents appeal decision to allow drilling under Ohio state parks and wildlife areas — Energy News Network
Environmental groups appeal an Ohio commission’s recent decisions allowing oil and gas drilling in a state park and two wildlife areas, citing a lack of analysis and opportunity for public comment.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine addresses subpoena in bribery scandal civil case, until AG Yost stops him — Ohio Capital Journal
Gov. Mike DeWine says he will comply with a subpoena he received in a civil case involving a major bribery scandal between FirstEnergy and a former lawmaker.
Ohio Fails to Pass Restrictions on College Teaching About Climate Policies — Inside Climate News
Ohio’s Republican House speaker says a bill to limit teaching of “controversial beliefs” such as climate change in college classrooms doesn’t have enough support to pass.
Former Ohio public utilities chairman Sam Randazzo indicted by federal grand jury for bribery, embezzlement — Ohio Capital Journal
A federal grand jury indicts Sam Randazzo, the former chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, on bribery and embezzlement charges related to the ongoing HB 6 bribery scandal investigation. Randazzo was appointed in 2019 in a rapid and opaque process that overlooked his consulting firms’ ties to FirstEnergy, which later admitted paying him a $4.3 million bribe for favorable legislation.
Electric vehicle driver breaks down costs of charging an EV — Spectrum
An Ohio driver shares his bills to show how much he is saving from switching to an electric vehicle, which are cheaper to drive than gas models.
Promises of Columbus green-energy plan fall woefully short — Columbus Dispatch
Columbus, Ohio, officials significantly scale back a 2020 clean electricity pledge, now aiming to supply just 60% clean power by 2034, citing an array of global factors for delaying clean energy projects.
Wisconsin
A pair of Wisconsin Republican lawmakers circulate legislation that would allow private businesses to own and operate EV charging stations without being regulated as a utility — a necessary change for the state to qualify for $78 million in federal funding.
GOP bill would pull farmland tax credits from farmers hosting solar power installations — Wisconsin Public Radio
Wisconsin Republicans propose legislation to strip farmland preservation tax credits from landowners who lease property for solar projects.
Rising electric, gas bills harshest for those least able to go green — Cap Times
Wisconsin utilities say they need to charge customers more to pay for investments in clean energy, but experts and advocates say rate hikes are also increasing energy burdens on low-income residents.
National
What Happened to the Great Lakes Offshore Wind Boom? — Inside Climate News
Despite strong winds on the Great Lakes, offshore wind projects in the region have largely failed to advance over the past decade because of local opposition and infrastructure challenges.
US coal power plants killed at least 460,000 people in past 20 years – report — The Guardian
Fine particulate matter emitted from coal plants is twice as deadly as from other sources and contributed to at least 460,000 deaths in the U.S. from 1999 to 2020, researchers find.
Biden’s paradox: Can a green grid coexist with industrial surge? — E&E News
Clean energy experts say the increased power demand from the Biden administration’s plan to grow the U.S. industrial base adds to challenges with decarbonizing the electric grid.
New life for old coal: Minelands and power plants are hot renewable development spot — States Newsroom
Former coal plants across the country are increasingly attractive for renewable energy and storage development amid growing resistance to renewables on greenfields.
Feds sue for $6.4M from bank accounts of dark money group founded by DeWine’s former top aide — Fox19
The U.S. attorney’s office sues a dark money group founded by a former top aide to Gov. Mike DeWine, seeking $6.4 million and alleging it received funds connected to a wire fraud conspiracy.
