Clean energy manufacturing jobs eyed for Appalachia

CLEAN ENERGY: A $10 million federal grant will support economic development efforts in Ohio and neighboring states to help lure small- and medium-sized manufacturers specializing in the clean energy supply chain. (Energy News Network)

CO2 PIPELINES:

• Some Iowa first responders say they lack proper equipment to safely carry out rescue operations in the case of a major carbon pipeline rupture. (Inside Climate News)
• A proposed carbon pipeline divides ethanol industry supporters and farmers who say they feel betrayed by the company’s potential use of eminent domain to build the project. (South Dakota Searchlight)

OHIO: The former FirstEnergy subsidiary that was to receive the bulk of a ratepayer-funded bailout for two of its nuclear plants says it acted in a ​“legal way” to help get House Bill 6 passed. (Ohio Capital Journal)

SOLAR:

• Alliant Energy announces the completion of six solar projects in Wisconsin totaling 514 MW of new capacity. (Capital Times)
• Michigan regulators approve plans for a 245 MW solar project in Indiana that would help power six counties in southwestern Michigan. (MLive)
• Missouri county officials approve plans to issue bonds for the construction and acquisition of a 1,500-acre solar project. (Southeast Missourian)

PIPELINES: Environmental groups and four tribes will appeal Michigan regulators’ decision to allow plans for an underground tunnel for Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac. (MLive)

OIL & GAS: 

• Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signs a bill allowing gas companies to charge customers up to $1.50 a month to extend gas lines to support potential large developments. (Cleveland.com)
• Industry leaders expect North Dakota to reach 5 billion barrels of total produced oil by mid-2024, noting the use of captured carbon dioxide will be key for more production. (Prairie Public Broadcasting)

BIOGAS: Plans for a central Wisconsin anaerobic digester on a dairy farm divide local residents as critics raise groundwater pollution concerns. (Wisconsin Examiner)

COAL: Decommissioning units of a Wisconsin coal plant in the coming months will require complex steps to keep wastewater treatment, water intake and a conveyor system operational for remaining units. (Journal Sentinel)

UTILITIES: A new Illinois law that took effect on Jan. 1 prohibits utilities from shutting off power to customers when temperatures reach certain heat thresholds. (Southern Illinoisan)

GRID: North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum declared a statewide emergency on Friday as thousands of residents experienced power outages when an ice storm dismantled power lines. (Associated Press)

CLIMATE: A new documentary explores researchers’ and advocates’ efforts to find climate solutions in northern Michigan. (Michigan Advance)