Challenges linger with federal community solar funding

SOLAR: A federal program meant to expand low-income community solar may face challenges verifying income and building trust in communities that have largely been left out of the clean energy transition. (Energy News Network)

ALSO:

• Iowa’s attorney general is reviewing whether the purchase of more than 75 acres of farmland for a large solar project violates a state law prohibiting foreign ownership of agricultural land. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)
• A $200 million solar project now online in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, includes 40 acres of native grasses for pollinators and will generate about $18 million in local revenue over 30 years. (Sheboygan Press)
• A southeastern Iowa city considers leasing city-owned farmland to Alliant Energy for a solar project. (Southeast Iowa Union)

COAL: Xcel Energy and local officials plan for solar and battery storage at the site of a Twin Cities power plant that will stop burning coal in the coming years. (Pioneer Press) 

EMISSIONS: Lowering emissions from residential natural gas use is the primary barrier to Evanston, Illinois’ plan to reach net zero emissions by 2050, city officials say. (Evanston RoundTable)

UTILITIES: A group of former ComEd executives and lobbyists convicted of bribing a former Illinois House speaker lose their bids for acquittal as well as a new trial. (Bloomberg Law, subscription)

EFFICIENCY: Developers break ground on what will be Michigan’s first multifamily certified passive housing project with highly energy-efficient features and nearly net-zero emissions. (Crain’s Grand Rapids Business)

GRID:

• The U.S. Department of Energy will release up to $70 million for public and private entities, universities and national laboratories to advance grid security and resilience research. (Utility Dive)
• North Dakota regulators in a split vote approve a utility’s plan to install smart meters that supporters say will save energy and money, though critics say the fees for opting out are too high. (North Dakota Monitor)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: New eligibility requirements in a federal tax credit program mean that just 19 electric vehicle models can receive the full credit when purchased, compared to 43 last year. (Inside Climate News)

BIOFUELS: A bipartisan bill in Congress would expand federal grant funding and loans for biofuel facilities and advanced biofuel-based manufacturing. (Harvest Public Media)