Illinois looks to become an electric truck leader

This roundup of energy news headlines comes from our Midwest Energy News newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each morning.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• Illinois regulators consider adopting California’s clean truck standards that require manufacturers to increase zero-emission heavy-duty truck sales over the next decade, a move that community advocates say would limit harmful local air pollution. (Canary Media)

• A company halts the environmental permitting process for a proposed $2.36 billion electric vehicle and energy battery manufacturing project in Michigan amid a legal dispute with a municipality challenging the project. (Big Rapids Pioneer)

NUCLEAR

• A U.S. ​“nuclear renaissance isn’t written in stone,” according to researchers at a consulting firm who say plant economics, policy and financial support, fuel availability, waste disposal and public acceptance are still lingering questions for the industry. (Utility Dive)

OIL & GAS

• The North Dakota Senate passes a bill to create tax incentives for oil drilling outside of the state’s primary production areas to encourage development in other geological formations. (North Dakota Monitor)

• Coast Guard officials say an oil spill at a Canadian oil refinery is contained and not affecting Michigan on the other side of the St. Clair River. (Planet Detroit)

• State-level efforts to create efficiency offices similar to DOGE at the federal level could shrink oil and gas oversight in red states, including North Dakota, a University of Michigan expert says. (E&E News)

SOLAR

• Construction on a utility-scale solar project in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is expected to ramp up this summer ahead of a 2026 opening date. (Daily Mining Gazette)

• A solar racking company plans to invest $19.5 million to build a new headquarters and manufacturing plant in Ohio. (PV Magazine)

• County officials are scheduled to vote today on plans for a 3,000-acre solar project in southeastern Nebraska that has generated pushback from nearby property owners. (KLKN)

UTILITIES

• Wisconsin utility We Energies proposes a special electric rate to ensure ratepayers aren’t on the hook for costs associated with new power plants and grid infrastructure to serve large data centers. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

• Ohio’s consumer advocate raises concerns over FirstEnergy’s request for a $190 million distribution rate increase for its subsidiaries as lawmakers advance legislation to repeal coal plant subsidies. (News 5)

BIOFUELS

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture announces $537 million to support biofuel infrastructure projects in 29 states to make the fuel more readily accessible. (Spectrum News)

CARBON CAPTURE

• Pairing natural gas generation with carbon capture and storage could provide a low-carbon, off-grid solution for new hyperscale data centers, according to a carbon management consulting firm. (Utility Dive)

NEW FROM CANARY MEDIA

• Revel’s new EV charging station buildout in the Bay Area utilizes PG&E’s ​“flexible connection” approach to ease grid demand when several chargers are being used at once, Jeff St. John reports.