Federal funding may be savior for Wisconsin climate goals

CLIMATE: A $5 billion federal Inflation Reduction Act program may give Wisconsin clean energy advocates an end-run around the legislature that has withheld funding for the state’s climate goals. (Energy News Network)

WASTE-TO-ENERGY: County officials advance a plan to close a Minneapolis trash incinerator within the next five to 17 years, which environmental justice advocates say is too long. (Star Tribune)

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GRID:

• Minnesota energy regulators and state officials say widespread outages caused by poor reliability is among their biggest fears about the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. (MinnPost)
• A transmission company is set to hold public meetings over a proposed high-voltage line between Indiana and southwestern Michigan. (Battle Creek Enquirer)

RENEWABLES: Michigan Democrats formally introduce bills to speed up wind and solar permitting by shifting the approval process from local governments to the state Public Service Commission. (Bridge)

UTILITIES: FirstEnergy investors continue to spar with the company over the release of information in court about the utility’s role in a major bribery scheme. (Ohio Capital Journal)

PIPELINES:

• Navigator for the second time this year withdraws plans for a carbon capture pipeline in Illinois as the developer evaluates options. (State Journal-Register)
• The Sierra Club says Summit Carbon Solutions has asked an Iowa agency to pause a review of the company’s required air quality and wastewater permits. (Globe Gazette)
• A central Illinois Republican opposes Wolf Carbon Solutions’ proposed carbon pipeline, claiming the company lacks emergency response plans and may rely on eminent domain to build the project. (WCBU)

CARBON CAPTURE:

• Projects in Illinois and North Dakota are among applicants angling for billions of dollars in federal funding to advance direct air capture technology, which some groups fear will prolong oil and gas production. (E&E News, Reuters)
• A company advances plans for an Illinois natural gas plant that would capture more than 90% of the facility’s carbon emissions for underground storage. (E&E News, subscription)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Automaker Stellantis and Samsung announce plans for a second electric vehicle battery plant in Indiana. (WTHR)

SOLAR:

• Wisconsin farm industry advocates say a bill in the U.S. Senate may help alleviate some concerns around commercial solar development on agricultural land. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• Cuyahoga County, Ohio, is an example of how local governments can craft supportive solar policies without waiting for the state and federal government to act. (PV Magazine)
• A consultant says a Nebraska county should update its zoning regulations to prepare for commercial solar development as a developer seeks to build a project. (McCook Gazette)

WIND: An Iowa county board narrowly passes an ordinance that determines wind turbine taxes based on how long they’ve been operating, up to 30% of a facility’s net acquisition cost. (Southeast Iowa Union)

COMMENTARY: A climate change author urges Minneapolis officials to pass a local franchise fee increase that would raise funding for climate initiatives. (MinnPost)