Activists question K.C. climate plan’s equity commitment

CLIMATE: Activists say Kansas City’s draft climate action plan is not as equitable as it claims because it fails to spell out specifics for how it will benefit lower-income residents and communities of color. (KCUR)

BIOFUELS: Midwest lawmakers in Congress re-introduce proposals to incentivize ethanol production as a way to replace Russian oil, though critics doubt it would help gas prices and also raise environmental concerns. (Grist)

SOLAR:
• A North Dakota township reviews a 1995 ordinance barring commercial solar projects after developers propose a 350 MW project whose potential tax revenue would more than double the township budget. (PV Magazine)
• The U.S. Commerce Department launches an investigation into whether solar panel imports from southeastern Asia are circumventing rules to imports from China, a move that industry advocates fear could jeopardize U.S. projects. (Associated Press)
• A 189 MW solar project is now fully operational in central Michigan. (Solar Power World)

PIPELINE: The Sierra Club is hosting an event at the Iowa capitol today to raise concerns about a lack of state action against the use of eminent domain for carbon pipeline projects. (Sioux City Journal) 

RENEWABLES: The Wisconsin chapter of the Land and Liberty Coalition reaches out to communities about the local economic benefits of large-scale renewable energy projects. (Portage Daily Register)

UTILITIES:
• An Ohio-based natural gas and electricity retailer files for chapter 11 bankruptcy after defaulting on about $12.6 million in payments and will begin transitioning its customers to new suppliers. (Wall Street Journal)
• Evansville, Indiana residents push local officials to create a task force aimed at improving electric and gas affordability for CenterPoint Energy customers. (WEHT)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Ohio officials assemble a tax incentive package to help lure an electric vehicle battery component manufacturer near Dayton. (Dayton Daily News)
• An Ohio transit agency uses grant funding to purchase two electric buses as it transitions its fleet from diesel-powered vehicles. (ABC 5)

EFFICIENCY: Spire says its online energy efficiency assessment tool that launched last year has helped Missouri customers save more than $2 million. (FOX 2)

COMMENTARY: A North Dakota Sierra Club chapter says it neither endorses nor opposes carbon capture pipeline projects, a columnist writes. (Jamestown Sun)