Illinois bill would lay foundation for Lake Michigan offshore wind

Correction: Monitoring stations were recently installed to detect diesel fumes in sewers at the University of Minnesota. An item in Thursday’s newsletter incorrectly stated the fuel type.

WIND: An Illinois lawmaker introduces a bill that would lay the groundwork for an offshore wind project in Lake Michigan about 10 miles from the shores of Chicago’s Southeast Side. (Chicago Tribune)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• A coalition asks the federal government to reject Indiana’s proposed electric vehicle charging network plan based on equity concerns. (Indiana Public Radio)
• Southeastern Michigan electric vehicle owners have sought out public charging stations during widespread power outages this week. (WXYZ)
• U.S. automakers are attempting to strengthen their electric vehicle component supply chains to ensure they keep up with growing demand. (Supply Chain Dive)

RENEWABLES: An Ohio county approves resolutions from four townships seeking to limit wind and solar development through restrictive zoning. (Marion Star)

BIOFUELS:
• State regulators fine a southwestern Iowa ethanol plant $10,000 for repeated air pollution violations over the past five years. (Iowa Capital Journal)
• Minnesota corn and soybean farmers express concern over California’s plan to ban new sales of emission-producing vehicles by 2035. (Star Tribune)

SOLAR:
• A pair of major climate laws — one state, one federal — are expected to lower the cost of residential solar in Illinois by around 70%. (Chicago Tribune)
• State regulators approve plans for a 100 MW solar project in eastern Ohio. (WTRF)
• A developer will rent 29 acres of city-owned property in central Illinois for a community solar project. (Pekin Daily Times)
• A developer completed a 2.6 MW solar project on an Illinois brownfield site formerly home to a General Motors manufacturing plant. (Worcester Business Journal)

GRID: A coal industry group says the North American Electric Reliability Corp. is underestimating coal plant capacity retirements by 2030 by about 68 GW, posing a threat to grid reliability. (Utility Dive)

CLEAN ENERGY: The Biden administration is expected to announce a $1 billion economic development grant package today, with much of it targeted toward clean energy projects. (Associated Press)

COMMENTARY:
• An Ohio editorial board says it’s ​“great news” for Cleveland’s ports and manufacturing industry that developers are rebooting plans for an offshore wind pilot project after a recent favorable court ruling. (Cleveland.com)
• A Wisconsin organized labor official says the Inflation Reduction Act is a ​“union jobs bill” that will bring vast clean energy employment opportunities. (Wisconsin Examiner)