Iowa could lose its clean energy appeal to data centers

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.

CLEAN ENERGY

• The One Big Beautiful Bill Act that cuts renewable energy incentives could jeopardize large data center investments in Iowa, where clean energy availability has been a key attraction for tech giants. (Inside Climate News)

SOLAR

• Distributed solar projects accompanied by batteries can serve as virtual power plants, quickly ramp up to meet growing grid demand, and provide a lifeline to a solar industry facing headwinds. (Canary Media)

• Minnesota nonprofits and developers press ahead with community and commercial solar projects, even as federal incentives are about to sunset, to meet the state’s 2040 carbon-free electricity target. (Minnesota Reformer)

• A coalition of property owners appeals Ohio regulators’ approval of a 120 MW solar project, claiming that it does not serve the public interest. (Knox Pages)

• Duluth, Minnesota, officials consider a plan to lease 37 acres of a former hay field for a solar project. (Duluth News Tribune)

PIPELINES

• The Dakota Access pipeline developer asks a North Dakota judge to block Greenpeace from counter-suing the company in the Netherlands in a case that the nonprofit has said is meant to protect the group’s free speech. (North Dakota Monitor)

• Environmental groups use the 15th anniversary of a large Michigan oil pipeline spill to warn about the dangers of Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac. (Michigan Public)

GRID

• ComEd’s CEO calls for tariff changes that would require higher deposits from data center developers, while requiring them to post collateral if load projections fail to materialize, to prevent cost-shifting to other customers. (Bloomberg)

NUCLEAR

• South Dakota regulators approve a utility’s rate increase request that includes a portion for researching whether small modular nuclear reactors would be feasible in the state. (Inforum)

CLIMATE

• Illinois researchers say the frequency of weather producing large hail will increase because of climate change, adding to the billions of dollars in annual property damage hail already causes across the U.S. (Chicago Tribune)

• Iowa City, Iowa, has already met its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030 and plans to deploy climate change resilience hubs to aid residents during extreme weather events. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)

UTILITIES

• Rising power demand and necessary upgrades to outdated grid infrastructure are increasing electric rates across the country, with little relief in sight. (Vox)

• Power price increases are set to worsen for Ohio customers in the territory of grid operator PJM, where future prices jumped 22% in a recent capacity auction. (Cleveland.com)

NEW FROM CANARY 

• As rooftop solar gets hammered, virtual power plants offer a way forward — Jeff St. John

• Energy bill could cost North Carolina billions in lost investments and jobs — Elizabeth Ouzts

• EVs had a decent quarter. The next could be record-breaking. — Kathryn Krawczyk