Americans want a bigger power grid

This roundup of energy news headlines comes from our Midwest Energy News newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning.

GRID

• A new poll of likely voters in PJM and MISO grid operator territories finds broad, bipartisan support to expand the electric grid by adding transmission lines as rising energy costs represent a growing concern. (Canary Media)

RENEWABLES

• Indiana’s top energy official says local bans on wind, solar and other energy projects are ​“disgraceful” and give the state a bad reputation by sending signals to companies that development is unwelcome. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)

SOLAR

• DTE Energy has been amassing industrial warehouse space in metro Detroit to stockpile solar panels for projects across Michigan and to safe harbor tax credits for future projects before they phase out under a new federal law. (Crain’s Detroit)

• A Missouri solar installer founded in 2012 is closing as a result of policy uncertainty under the Trump administration. (KSHB)

• A growing number of Michigan houses of worship partner with faith-based nonprofits to install solar and clean energy projects that can reduce energy costs and provide aid to communities during times of need. (Inside Climate News)

• Wisconsin Republicans for the third time introduce a bill to allow community solar projects on underutilized land or spaces such as farmland or rooftops. (WSAU)

PIPELINES

• The Sierra Club and landowners ask Iowa regulators to reject Summit Carbon Solutions’ request to amend its carbon pipeline permit by removing language that would require approvals in North and South Dakota before construction can start. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

• Summit Carbon Solutions announces a community partnership and benefits program that updates safety commitments and benefits to governments and landowners that participate in the project. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

UTILITIES

• Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith’s call to end a sales tax on utility services as bills continue to climb faces opposition from key legislative leaders. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)

DATA CENTERS

• Wisconsin environmental groups raise concerns about the amount of energy and water use expected from data centers in the southern part of the state and others in the pipeline. (Wisconsin Examiner)

• An environmental group sues the city of Racine, Wisconsin, for failing to disclose anticipated water use from a Microsoft data center. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

• A new PJM policy proposes to cut off power to data centers that are not using power they have developed or acquired during emergencies to avoid rolling blackouts. (E&E News)

GEOTHERMAL

• CenterPoint Energy gauges local Minnesota governments’ interest in piloting networked geothermal systems under a state law aimed at decarbonizing the gas sector. (Smart Cities Dive)

FOSSIL FUELS

• An eastern Iowa airport authority says Alliant Energy should find an alternative site further from the airport to build a natural gas plant, saying the current location y would jeopardize safety and the ability to secure federal grants. (KCRG)

NUCLEAR

• Plans to reopen a shuttered Michigan nuclear plant get another $156 million loan disbursement from the Department of Energy. (WOOD-TV)

OIL & GAS

• A North Dakota pipeline leak spills about 20,000 barrels of crude oil and produced water on agricultural land. (North Dakota Monitor)

• An oil and gas lease sale for federal land in North Dakota and Montana brings in $38 million in revenue for federal and state governments to share. (E&E News)

NEW FROM CANARY 

• California just passed a suite of bills to tackle rising energy costs — Jeff St. John

• Trump admin tries to sink Maryland’s first offshore wind project — Clare Fieseler

• The solar industry threw a party in Vegas and it actually wasn’t sad — Julian Spector

• As data centers go up, North Carolina weighs how to handle energy demand — Elizabeth Ouzts