Geothermal survives in ​‘big, beautiful’ law

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GEOTHERMAL

• While the new federal tax and spending law preserves tax credits for geothermal power plants, the sector still faces headwinds from tariffs and restrictions on investments involving Chinese companies. (Canary Media)

POWER PLANTS

• Kansas regulators approve Evergy’s $1.8 billion plan to build two natural gas plants and a solar project despite ratepayer concerns about costs. (Kansas Reflector)

EFFICIENCY

• Michigan agrees to pause the implementation of new building energy codes that would require stronger energy efficiency standards as legal challenges play out from construction groups. (MLive)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• Michigan cities continue purchasing electric vehicles for their fleets to save on fuel and maintenance costs and help achieve climate goals. (Detroit News)

COAL

• The owner of North Dakota’s largest coal plant plans to use the financially struggling facility to power new data centers nearby. (Bismarck Tribune)

NUCLEAR

• Illinois nuclear plant owner Constellation says an agreement with Meta to supply power for data centers could be a template for steady revenue for the state’s nuclear fleet. (Chicago Tribune)

• Federal regulators allow Vistra to operate its Perry nuclear plant in Ohio for another 20 years through 2046. (Reuters)

PIPELINES

• A state Senate Democrat from Iowa calls on leadership to hold a special session to override Gov. Kim Reynolds’ veto of a bill to restrict the use of eminent domain for carbon pipeline projects. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

• The Department of Justice is appealing a federal judge’s decision to award North Dakota $28 million in damages for the Army Corps of Engineers’ response to Dakota Access pipeline protests. (North Dakota Monitor)

• Line 5 opponents take out billboard advertisements on a busy Michigan interstate targeted at travelers going north during the summer travel season. (Michigan Advance)

SOLAR

• Minnesota regulators approve two solar projects totaling 475 MW of capacity along with battery storage. (Daily Energy Insider)

• Minnesota officials and installers expect solar investments to ramp up in the coming months before tapering off when federal tax credits phase out. (MPR News)

• Construction begins on a 500-acre solar project in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula that a landowner says will provide reliable income in addition to farming operations. (WLUC)

HYDROELECTRIC

• More than one-third of U.S. hydroelectric plant operators are considering decommissioning their facilities amid low energy prices and permitting hurdles. (Harvest Public Media)

UTILITIES

• Federal prosecutors seek a nearly six-year prison sentence for former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore for her role in a bribery conspiracy that sought favorable legislation for the Chicago-based utility. (Chicago Sun-Times)