Illinois clean energy law expects to save billions

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.

STORAGE

• Illinois’ new clean energy bill that incentivizes battery storage should save utility customers $13.4 billion over 20 years as an influx of electricity into capacity markets suppresses prices, regulators say. (Canary Media)

COAL

• The Trump administration’s orders to keep a Michigan coal plant open beyond its May 31, 2025, closure date racked up $80 million in additional costs in four months. (Inside Climate News)

• The Trump administration announces a $100 million program for operators to refurbish aging coal plants and retrofit facilities to run on natural gas. (E&E News)

GRID

• Xcel Energy’s five-year, $60 billion capital investment plan across its multi-state territory calls for 1,500 miles of high-voltage transmission, 1.9 GW of energy storage, 7.5 GW of renewable energy, and 3 GW of gas generation. (Utility Dive)

SOLAR

• Ohio solar advocates hope rising power demand statewide will bring more urgency to passing legislation to create a community solar pilot program. (Ohio Capital Journal)

PIPELINES

• Community negotiations and local investments helped lead to the successful development of a multi-state carbon capture pipeline in the Midwest after at least three other similar projects have stalled or failed. (Associated Press)

• The Iowa Court of Appeals upholds a $1.8 million civil penalty against the operator of a propane and gas pipeline that regulators say operated for 21 years without proper permits. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

DATA CENTERS

• A new state law giving tax breaks to large data centers as well as transmission infrastructure helped lure a massive data center to southeastern Michigan. (E&E News)

• Energy industry insiders say electric utilities are growing increasingly concerned over the Trump administration’s efforts to lure large U.S. data centers and allow them to source power from off the grid. (E&E News)

NUCLEAR

• Ohio launches a $100 million fund to help companies recruit, train, and retain workers in energy infrastructure jobs, particularly in nuclear energy. (Cleveland.com)

UTILITIES

• Minnesota regulators will expedite a review of the Upper Sioux Community’s request to reassign its power needs for a casino to a new utility after a dispute over on-site solar generation. (West Central Tribune)

• The Ohio Supreme Court hears arguments in consumer advocates’ case against regulators’ approval of large hikes in utility fixed rates, as well as the ability to eliminate energy efficiency programs for low-income customers. (Ohio Capital Journal)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• An undisclosed number of workers have been laid off from construction on a new Indiana battery plant that General Motors and Samsung are developing as the automaker scales back EV investments. (WSBT)

HYDROPOWER

• Consumers Energy says paying a premium to buy back power from 13 Michigan hydroelectric dams after selling them for $1 each to a private equity firm will save customers money compared to decommissioning or maintaining them. (Bridge)

NEW FROM CANARY

• The loophole that could give clean heat a boost under Trump — Jeff St. John

• Europe’s flagship green-steel project gets a financial lifeline — Alexander C. Kaufman

• Do offshore wind farms kill bats? Trump cut research into the question. — Clare Fieseler

• The key elections to watch for energy and climate — Kathryn Krawczyk