Gov. Walz budget calls for major clean energy spending

CLEAN ENERGY: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s budget proposal includes nearly $458 million over the next two years for weatherization, electric vehicle infrastructure and solar incentives. (MPR News)

UTILITIES:
• A new report ranks Indiana among the worst states for electric utility performance as customers in states that heavily rely on fuel oil and gas tend to pay more than those in other states. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
• Two Chicago gas utilities propose income-based utility rates that would give discounts to tens of thousands of low-income residential customers. (Crain’s Chicago Business, subscription)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Iowa officials hope to distribute the first round of federal funding for fast-charging EV stations this summer. (KCRG)

SOLAR:
• Michigan regulators approve a settlement that will double the capacity allowed under a Consumers Energy rooftop solar program. (Crain’s Detroit Business, subscription)
• An Ohio conservation district will install 13 solar projects this year that will offset nearly 75% of the agency’s power use. (Times Leader)

EFFICIENCY: A recent study found that Michigan could save 10.7% on residential energy costs by updating its building codes to align with international standards. (Planet Detroit)

PIPELINES:
• North Dakota’s mineral resources director says proposed legislation to block eminent domain for carbon pipelines would jeopardize the oil industry’s ability to use enhanced oil recovery at depleted wells. (Bismarck Tribune)
• An Iowa judge is set to decide whether a trespassing charge against a carbon pipeline surveyor should proceed to trial. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

MICROGRIDS: Xcel Energy is partnering with a Wisconsin county to build the state’s first microgrid, which would isolate the county jail and courthouse from the grid in the event of an outage. (WDIO)

OIL & GAS: Natural gas prices drop in North Dakota amid a regional supply glut and lack of pipeline capacity to move products to more lucrative markets. (Natural Gas Intelligence)

COMMENTARY:
• ​“Ethanol’s future has never been brighter,” despite claims that demoting the state’s first-in-the-nation caucuses could doom the industry, says the head of the Renewable Fuels Association. (Des Moines Register)
• Disclosure and transparency laws are a ​“proven inoculation” to prevent the influence of dark money in Ohio politics, showcased in two recent energy laws, an editorial board writes. (Cleveland.com)