Frac sand mining is permanently altering Midwest farmland

FRAC SAND: Midwest farmland is being irreversibly altered for silica sand mining, providing a key ingredient in the hydraulic fracturing process. (Civil Eats)

WIND: After a nearly decade-long dispute over tax assessments at multiple wind farms in central and eastern Michigan, local governments and DTE Energy reach an agreement to settle. (Sanilac County News)

SOLAR:
• A southwestern Iowa county adjusts its solar energy zoning regulations to match a statewide siting guide while also addressing decommissioning funds, ground cover and noise. (Advocate Journal)
• Alliant Energy is preparing to build its first community solar project, which will be located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (KCRG)

POLITICS: The Democratic candidate for Ohio governor releases a climate and clean energy agenda that includes replacing members of the Public Utilities Commission in light of an ongoing corruption scandal and powering state government operations entirely with renewables by 2030. (Ohio Capital Journal)

PIPELINES: A South Dakota county approves a one-year moratorium on the construction of transmission pipelines, including carbon capture pipeline proposals. (Argus Leader)

UTILITIES:
• North Dakota regulators approve an interim rate increase for Montana-Dakota Utilities to help pay for natural gas generation investments and to offset inflationary costs. (Bismarck Tribune)
• Peoria, Illinois, electric customers have been without an energy aggregation deal since early June amid elevated prices caused by high demand. (Journal Star)
• Ameren Illinois allocates $500,000 for bill assistance to customers who typically do not meet income qualifications for other relief programs. (The Telegraph)

GRID: A federal appeals court dismisses a complaint by Entergy and Xcel Energy seeking to overturn a cost allocation methodology for projects in grid operator MISO’s territory that connect to PJM’s territory. (Utility Dive)

OIL & GAS:
• Spiking diesel fuel prices have a widespread impact on consumers as costs are absorbed into products and passed down from companies. (Associated Press)
• North Dakota oil production jumped 17% in May, rebounding from a sharp decline in April caused by multiple storms. (Bismarck Tribune)

COMMENTARY:
• An Iowa solar installer says the U.S. isn’t off the ​“solarcoaster” yet as companies contend with rising inflation and supply chain issues. (Des Moines Register)
• Public officials need to speak out for greater attention and resources to ensure long-term grid reliability, says an official with the Conservative Energy Network. (Utility Dive)