EV, batteries drive Michigan clean energy jobs boom

POLITICS: Jurors are expected to start deliberating today after hearing closing arguments in the ​“ComEd Four” trial involving bribery charges against former ComEd officials and political operatives close to former House Speaker Michael Madigan. (Chicago Sun-Times)

ALSO:
• Kansas Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly allows a GOP-backed bill to become law that prohibits environmental, social and governance strategies when investing public funds or deciding who receives government contracts. (Associated Press)
• A similar anti-ESG bill in Indiana heads to Gov. Eric Holcomb’s desk. (Associated Press)

CLEAN ENERGY: Michigan is poised to add 13,000 jobs and attract more than $20 billion in clean energy investments from 14 companies, mostly in the electric vehicle and battery space. (Michigan Radio)

NUCLEAR: Local officials say independent tests confirm that a Minnesota city’s drinking water remains safe following a contaminated water spill at a nearby nuclear plant. (MPR)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: General Motors and Samsung plan to invest $3 billion in a new U.S. battery cell manufacturing plant, though they did not disclose its location. (WDIV)

GRID:
• State utility regulators urge grid operator PJM to speed up the interconnection process for new generation as coal plants are slated to come offline. (Utility Dive)
• Michigan regulators form a new work group aimed at improving grid reliability by holding utilities financially accountable for the number and duration of outages. (Michigan Radio)

CARBON CAPTURE: Environmental groups say Illinois is unprepared and unprotected from the risks of a potential expansion of carbon capture and storage projects. (WAND)

OIL & GAS:
• Ohio environmental groups want the state to strengthen the public comment and notification process when companies seek to drill for oil and gas on publicly owned land. (Cleveland Scene)
• Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is expected to sign a bill that would require petroleum refiners to hire more highly trained contractors after workers raised safety concerns at a Twin Cities-area facility. (Minnesota Reformer)

COAL: Local officials raise concerns about redevelopment options after an individual investor bought several parcels around a shuttered southwestern Ohio coal plant. (WCPO)

SOLAR:
• A Nebraska city will invest $8.4 million to expand an existing solar project at a municipal airport. (Hastings Tribune)
• A coalition of Michigan faith-based and clean energy groups launch an initiative to help places of worship install solar projects. (FOX 17)

UTILITIES: Residents in an Ohio county will vote next week on whether to join electric and gas aggregation programs in an effort to secure lower energy rates. (Marietta Times)

COMMENTARY: A national community solar advocate says a proposed bill in Minnesota to restructure the state’s community solar program is misguided and lacks consumer benefits. (Minnesota Reformer)