Advocates seek clean energy boost with U.S. Farm Bill

CLEAN ENERGY: Advocates want Congress to ​“harmonize” clean energy incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act and the national Farm Bill to simplify and expand a rural clean energy program. (Energy News Network)

ALSO:
• Universities are increasingly relying on private companies and investor-owned utilities to reduce emissions from campus energy systems. (Daily Energy Insider)
• A Nebraska city considers creating a special assessment district that would allow property developers to access loans for clean energy projects through private lenders. (Omaha World-Herald)

STORAGE: Minnesota lawmakers consider a bill that would require utilities to meet energy storage targets following a new law requiring 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. (MinnPost)

OHIO:
• The former Ohio Republican Party chairman on trial for racketeering paid a person $15,000 in 2019 to spy on an organized effort to repeal the state’s corrupt power plant bailout law. (Ohio Capital Journal)
• Prosecutors in the racketeering trial also involving the former House Speaker rested their case Monday, five weeks after opening arguments. (Associated Press)

CARBON CAPTURE:
• Iowa lawmakers fail to advance legislation that would have restricted the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines without voluntary permission on two-thirds of affected properties. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)
• A Minnesota group calls on state regulators to consider the full environmental impacts of a proposed carbon capture pipeline. (Inforum)
• Iowa’s House speaker says it’s likely that a carbon pipeline developer would sue if it is denied permits for its project. (Waverly Newspapers)

CLIMATE: The Indiana House passes a bill that seeks to cut ties with financial institutions that have environmental, social and governance investing goals. (Indiana Public Radio)

SOLAR: A panel of local farmers will discuss plans for a 200 MW solar project near the Lake Michigan shoreline in western Michigan. (MLive)

UTILITIES:
• Michigan Democrats call on utilities to reimburse customers for prolonged outages caused by last week’s ice storm. (Bridge Michigan)
• Xcel Energy files a request with Wisconsin regulators to expand a bill payment assistance program for low-income customers. (WEAU)

RENEWABLES: Missouri county officials hold a public hearing for residents to voice concerns about a series of planned wind and solar projects. (KOMU)