Hybrid F-150 lights up Michigan wedding reception after power goes out

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: A pair of Ford engineers powered a friend’s wedding reception with their hybrid F-150 last week after the electricity went out in the middle of the party, giving a viral marketing boost to the truck’s capabilities as a power source. (Detroit Free Press)

TRANSPORTATION:
• The Biden administration is considering tougher penalties for automakers who fail to meet fuel economy standards. (E&E News)
• St. Paul’s city council votes to eliminate parking requirements for new developments, joining Minneapolis and a handful of other cities around the country. (St. Paul Pioneer Press)

CLIMATE:
• Michigan lawmakers, activists and labor leaders call on the legislature to expand clean energy jobs and prepare for climate change. (Detroit News)
• Kansas Wesleyan University launches a new curriculum to ensure climate change impacts are considered across multiple areas of study. (Kansas Reflector)
• Protesters gathered at MidAmerican Energy’s headquarters in Des Moines to demand the utility retire all of its coal plants within 9 years. (Iowa Public Radio)

PIPELINES: The Biden administration is under increasing pressure from Democrats to pull permits for the Line 3 pipeline in Minnesota. (HuffPost)

SOLAR:
• The Ohio Siting Board today will consider a 144 MW solar project proposed on 1,100 acres west of Columbus. (Springfield News-Sun)
• A Nebraska town celebrates completion of a 2.4 MW solar array that will provide power directly to its municipal grid. (Kearney Hub)
• The U.S. Army plans to install 385 solar systems on base housing at Fort Riley in Kansas. (Solar Power World)
• Auto industry supplier Bendix says a new 1.1 MW solar array in Indiana alone will cut the company’s North American carbon footprint by 3%. (WANE)
• Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds declared yesterday ​“Solar Day in Iowa,” as a proclamation was read at the State Fair. (news release)

POWER PLANTS: Wisconsin lawmakers consider extending state aid to communities affected by impending closure of two power plants. (Telegraph Herald)

HYDROGEN:
• Developers say a proposed blue hydrogen facility in North Dakota would be the largest in the U.S. (Upstream)
• An Illinois company is recognized for its work in improving hydrogen storage technology as well as attracting a diverse workforce. (Centered)

UTILITIES: Xcel Energy is expected to continue pushing forward on clean energy after retiring CEO Ben Fowke’s departure this week. (S&P Global)

COMMENTARY:
• Illinois Rep. Sean Casten talks with David Roberts about ​“Hot FERC Summer” and his efforts to draw more attention to the agency. (Canary Media)
• Environmental economists say Minnesota’s new Clean Cars policy is a good start, but doesn’t go far enough to reach climate goals. (MinnPost)
• A columnist says Missouri can’t afford to continue ignoring climate change. (Northwest Missourian)