Hydrogen optimism in Ohio

This roundup of energy news headlines comes from our Midwest Energy News newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning.

HYDROGEN

• Ohio hydrogen industry leaders say they remain optimistic as projects move forward despite the Trump administration’s move to claw back billions in funding support. (Canary Media)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• Ford is reportedly discussing scrapping its electric F-150 Lightning as it expects EV sales to fall over the next few years. (Wall Street Journal)

DATA CENTERS

• Plans for a large data center in southeastern Michigan reignite concerns about the state missing long-term climate targets as utilities say more natural gas will be needed to meet rising demand. (Planet Detroit)

• Michigan’s Democratic attorney general looks to intervene in a regulatory case involving the large data center, citing a lack of clarity from DTE Energy about how ratepayers would be held harmless. (Michigan Advance)

• A Minnesota environmental group joins its fourth lawsuit seeking to block a data center in the state based on a lack of public transparency. (Forum News Service)

• Wisconsin Democrats propose a series of labor, energy, and sustainability requirements for tech companies seeking to build data centers in the state. (Wisconsin Examiner)

UTILITIES

• Michigan regulators approve rate structures for Consumers Energy for large-load customers like data centers that require long-term contracts and steep penalties for exiting early, as well as requiring large users to pay for related infrastructure. (Bridge)

• Kansas regulators approve similar rate structure guardrails and requirements for large energy users that are expected to grow in the state. (Kansas Reflector)

• Indiana regulators would have little say in the potential sale of AES to private equity firm BlackRock as consumer advocates say the deal could lead to higher prices. (Axios)

• Two former FirstEnergy executives are set to stand trial in January for their alleged role in a massive bribery case as their attorneys seek to limit testimony from the state’s expert witness. (Signal Ohio)

GRID

• The proliferation of data centers and other large energy users across Great Lakes states bring unprecedented threats to the region’s freshwater supply. (Circle of Blue)

COAL

• The U.S. EPA approves a North Dakota program giving the state oversight of waste from coal plants, making it the fourth state to receive the permitting authority. (North Dakota Monitor)

HYDROELECTRIC

• Consumers Energy and DTE Energy are in a prolonged legal battle with Toshiba with potentially more than $600 million at stake over who’s at fault for major repairs needed at a large Lake Michigan pumped storage hydro plant. (MLive)

NUCLEAR

• Indiana leaders say nuclear energy will be a key piece to the state’s energy future and help meet rising demand as industry experts from around the world gathered at a summit at Purdue University. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)

• Ohio economists say nuclear power has the potential to put downward pressure on electric rates, though uncertainty remains if demand doesn’t end up meeting overbuilt supplies. (Ohio Capital Journal)

• Iowa regulators will hold a public meeting next week to take questions on NextEra Energy’s plan to reopen a shuttered nuclear plant. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)

NEW FROM CANARY

• Chart: China leads the race to build green industrial projects — Maria Gallucci

• NYC’s next mayor Zohran Mamdani has a big climate policy to-do list — Alexander C. Kaufman

• In a boost for offshore wind, New Jersey elects Mikie Sherrill — Clare Fieseler

• One North Carolina company’s plan for keeping rooftop solar going — Elizabeth Ouzts