MIDWEST ENERGY NEWS
WRITTEN BY
Andy BalaskovitzFebruary 11, 2021
SOLAR: A coalition of homeowners and solar advocates are asking state lawmakers to support a bill that would block homeowners associations from banning rooftop solar projects. (Energy News Network)
TRANSMISSION: Conservation groups file a lawsuit against federal agencies for allegedly failing to consider alternatives to a controversial high-voltage transmission line through southwestern Wisconsin. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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COAL:
• Indiana lags other states in requiring utilities to remove coal ash from unlined pits, which are contaminating groundwater across the state. (Indianapolis Star)
• Ohio coal production has steadily dropped in recent years and accelerated by shifts in energy demand during the pandemic. (Columbus Dispatch)
SUSTAINABILITY: Ohio University researchers aim to create carbon-based products from coal mining waste materials that lower the environmental impact of construction and building materials. (Centered)
RENEWABLES:
• Grid operator MISO says achieving 50% renewable energy across its system is doable, though significantly expanding wind and solar will require changes in planning, operations and markets. (E&E News, subscription)
• An Indiana House committee advances a bill that would set statewide standards for large wind and solar projects despite criticism that it would strip away local control. (Indiana Business Journal)
SOLAR:
• Michigan Tech researchers publish findings saying utility customers with solar installations provide net benefits to the grid and subsidize non-solar customers. (PV Magazine)
• County officials in Minnesota begin resolving concerns over local solar energy regulations that led to a moratorium on projects last month. (Maple Lake Messenger)
OHIO:
• FirstEnergy utilities in five states paid $144 million over three years for external affairs support from a company that’s allegedly a key player in Ohio’s power plant subsidy scandal. (Energy and Policy Institute)
• A federal judge schedules a guilty plea hearing next week for the nonprofit that authorities say was used as part of the bribery scheme. (Associated Press)
• Nearly 20 elected officials from former House Speaker Larry Householder’s district ask the current GOP House Speaker to remove Householder from his seat over his alleged role in the scandal. (Cleveland.com)
UTILITIES: The new Illinois House Speaker previously supported a ratemaking policy for ComEd that has brought criticism from ratepayer advocates who fear the new leadership will be “business as usual.” (WBEZ)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Despite major commitments from automakers, Missouri still lags on electric vehicle adoption with no clear goals from state officials. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
PIPELINES: U.S. lawmakers debate amendments related to the Keystone XL pipeline during deliberations over COVID-19 relief funding. (E&E News, subscription)
BIOGAS: DTE Energy now offers residential and small business gas customers an option to purchase renewable biogas from landfill emissions and carbon offsets. (Crain’s Detroit Business)
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OIL & GAS: Energy Transfer seeks to dismiss a resident’s lawsuit brought against the company involving the development of a natural gas pipeline in mid-Michigan. (WHMI)
COMMENTARY:
• Electric vehicle charging stations and software built on open standards can help fill the widening gap between the number of stations needed to meet EV adoption targets, an industry advocate writes. (Energy News Network)
• Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz should rely more on incentives rather than regulations to boost electric vehicle adoption statewide, a columnist says. (Star Tribune)
ABOUT ANDY BALASKOVITZ
Andy has been a journalism fellow for Midwest Energy News since 2014, following four years at City Pulse, Lansing’s alt-weekly newspaper. He covers the state of Michigan and also compiles the Midwest Energy News daily email digest. Andy is a graduate of Michigan State University’s Journalism School, where he focused on topics covered by the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism and wrote for the Great Lakes Echo. He was the 2008 and 2009 recipient of the Edward Meeman Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Environmental Journalism at Michigan State.
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