Illinois’ model for rooftop community solar

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.

SOLAR

• A community solar buildout on 60 Public Storage facilities’ rooftops in Illinois showcase the financing model’s approach while taking advantage of underutilized commercial properties. (Canary Media)

• Illinois’ plan to repurpose former coal plant sites into solar and battery storage projects has fallen short of expectations, but advocates say the attempt can provide lessons for future coal transition efforts. (Canary Media)

RENEWABLES

• Clean energy advocates say rising power demand could lead to more wind and solar projects that would generate crucial tax revenue for Nebraska communities. (Flatwater Free Press)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• General Motors will sell its stake in an EV battery joint venture in Indiana to partner Samsung SDI as the automaker further backs away from the EV market and Samsung devotes more attention to the energy storage market. (Reuters)

• GM and EVgo open a flagship charging station at a Meijer superstore near Detroit as part of a new partnership that executives say is necessary to build out adequate charging infrastructure. (Automotive News)

OVERSIGHT

• The recently fired former member of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission sues Gov. Mike Braun (R) and other top state officials for allegedly infringing on the commission’s duties after he voted against a rate increase for AES. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)

DATA CENTERS

• Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) calls for a moratorium on new and expanded data centers to create permanent regulations on power and water use and other environmental implications. (Chicago Sun-Times)

• Candidates from local to statewide races who took stances against data centers performed well in Michigan’s primary election this month, showing how political support for the unpopular facilities came with a cost. (Inside Climate News)

• Michigan’s Democratic attorney general and environmental groups file initial court briefs as they appeal state regulators’ approval of DTE’s power supply contracts for an OpenAI data center. (Michigan Advance)

• Kansas City-based utility Evergy has signed 3 GW of electric service agreements with data centers as it plans to build 5 GW of new gas and solar generation and battery storage capacity. (Utility Dive)

UTILITIES

• Michigan regulators issue a set of 19 recommendations to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) to help lower energy prices, including eliminating yearly rate increases that contribute to ratepayers’ frustration and fatigue. (MLive)

EFFICIENCY

• Minnesota’s first multifamily passive housing project is rising in Minneapolis in an effort that project leaders say can be a model for other developers. (Sahan Journal)