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Carbon capture fears in central Illinois

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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.

CARBON CAPTURE

  • Central Illinois residents fear groundwater contamination from a proposed carbon capture storage site located near an aquifer that provides drinking water for more than 800,000 people across 14 counties. (Chicago Tribune)

OIL & GAS

  • North Dakota lawmakers say they plan to address the issue of oil and gas producers deducting money from mineral owners’ share of income following years of inaction and an investigation of the problem. (ProPublica/​North Dakota Monitor)

  • Iowa State University researchers study the potential for using bio-oil made from plant waste to plug abandoned oil wells. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

CLEAN ENERGY

  • The architect and key Democratic negotiator behind sweeping Illinois clean energy legislation, including a forthcoming bill expected by the end of the year, plans to step down and not seek re-election in 2026. (Capitol News Illinois)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

  • The Michigan Supreme Court revives a citizen opposition group’s lawsuit against Ford’s massive new Michigan electric vehicle battery plant that’s already under construction. (MLive)

  • Stellantis cancels plans for an all-electric Ram pickup truck that was under development and already had several delays, citing slowed EV demand. (Detroit Free Press)

UTILITIES

  • Utility regulators in multiple Midwest states push back on companies’ requests involving executive pay and travel expenses as electricity costs increase for customers. (E&E News)

SOLAR

  • Minnesota regulators approve plans for a 66 MW solar project that’s expected to come online by the end of next year. (Bemidji Pioneer)

GRID

  • Wisconsin ratepayers ask state regulators to freeze utility rate increases for the next two years as consumer advocates reach settlement agreements with companies looking for more revenue for grid infrastructure upgrades. (Wisconsin Public Radio)

  • Minnesota regulators consider Xcel Energy’s latest rate increase the utility says is needed for grid infrastructure, clean energy, and nuclear investments to prepare for rising electricity demand. (MPR News)

COAL

  • Ohio-based energy technology manufacturer Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises Inc. partners with a global investment firm to pursue opportunities to convert coal plants to natural gas that could power data centers. (Crain’s Cleveland)

CLIMATE

  • Heavier rainfall caused by a warming climate is accelerating erosion in parts of Minnesota and causing more frequent landslides and rockfalls that can significantly damage homes, businesses, and infrastructure. (MPR News)

  • Psychologists see rising rates of mental health challenges in Missouri and other states caused by increasing climate-fueled extreme weather incidents. (KTTN)

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