Feds say Illinois utility corruption trial should proceed

POLITICS: Federal prosecutors argue that a corruption trial involving former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and alleged gifts from ComEd over several years should proceed despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. (Chicago Sun-Times)

SOLAR: Minnesota budgets $2 million for state grant funding to help local governments switch to automated permitting for solar installations. (PV Magazine)

GRID:

• DTE Energy’s CEO says on an investor call that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer supports a bill to provide tax incentives for data centers, which critics say could prolong fossil fuels to meet grid demand. (Planet Detroit)
• A new tool developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory helps utilities determine cybersecurity risks that could come with energy system upgrades. (Utility Dive)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: An electric school bus manufacturing plant in Illinois is operating significantly below capacity as company executives wait on U.S. and Canadian subsidy programs. (Chicago Tribune, subscription)

WIND: Officials in Iowa’s second-most populous county are poised to adopt new wind siting regulations permitting higher noise levels and stronger debris cleanup requirements. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)

COAL: Excavation and pumping continue at a Minnesota power plant where roughly 5.5 million gallons of coal ash wastewater spilled earlier this month. (KAXE)

BIOFUELS: An energy company plans a Nebraska ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel plant that would include a carbon pipeline that ships emissions to various local industries. (KSNB)

CLIMATE: Researchers say Nebraska and other Midwestern states could serve as a home for ​“climate migrants” that seek new homes away from coastal cities affected by climate change. (Nebraska Examiner)

UTILITIES:

• Evergy seeks a nearly 14% rate increase to pay for grid investments and new generation sources in western Missouri. (KQ2)
• Two natural gas providers in North Dakota seek rate increases to pay for meter replacements, infrastructure upgrades and pipeline replacement projects. (North Dakota Monitor)

BIOGAS: Residents raise concerns about a company’s interest in developing a biogas production facility in southeastern Michigan, citing concerns about potential noise and smell, truck traffic and effects on drinking water. (Manchester Mirror)

COMMENTARY: The president of Wisconsin-based We Energies says the utility’s recent rate increase requests would pay for clean energy investments and grid infrastructure. (Wisconsin State Journal)