Making the case for cleaner factories

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.

ELECTRIFICATION

• Advocates say onsite renewable energy and reforming electric rate structures could help make the economic case for U.S. industrial facilities to electrify operations and cut emissions. (Canary Media)

UTILITIES

• Michigan’s Board of State Canvassers approves a ballot measure seeking to bar political spending by major regulated utilities and large contractors, teeing it up for a likely statewide vote in November. (Bridge)

• A new Ohio bill seeking a one-year freeze on utility rate increases could delay two pending increase requests from Enbridge and a FirstEnergy subsidiary. (Cleveland.com)

• Indiana ratepayer advocates file a complaint with federal regulators over BlackRock’s pending acquisition of AES and the potential for rate increases. (FOX 59)

CLEAN ENERGY

• The Trump administration admits in new court documents that it canceled $7.6 billion in grants for hundreds of clean energy projects because recipients were in states that voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. (Associated Press)

SOLAR

• A Canadian Solar subsidiary opens its $1 billion flagship solar cell manufacturing facility in southern Indiana, which is expected to create 1,200 jobs. (Courier Journal)

• Minnesota Power breaks ground on an 85 MW solar project as part of a plan to convert a 70-year-old coal plant into clean energy. (WDIO)

• A representative from Laborers International Union raises concerns with local officials about local workers being shut out of construction on a 100 MW solar project in eastern Ohio. (Herald-Journal)

OIL & GAS

• Northwest Indiana clean air advocates raise concerns about the ongoing operations of BP’s Whiting refinery after the facility appeared in a new report detailing the top greenhouse gas emitters in the country. (Chicago Tribune)

GRID

• A city councilman in suburban Cleveland submits survey responses to state regulators documenting hardships experienced by 300 FirstEnergy customers during outages. (Cleveland.com)

NUCLEAR

• U.S. nuclear regulators look to reshape longstanding rules for radiation exposure by claiming to remove ambiguity in the law, though some experts say the move could raise allowable radiation doses in some cases. (Associated Press)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• First responders in Madison, South Dakota, participate in EV rescue training to better understand fire risks and other safety challenges as EV adoption grows. (KELO)

COMMENTARY

• Illinois regulators’ opposition to Peoples Gas’ latest rate increase jeopardizes jobs and public safety by deferring maintenance on gas distribution infrastructure, writes the president of the Chicago Federation of Labor. (Crain’s Chicago)

NEW FROM CANARY

• California to offer a novel $3,500 rebate for first-time EV buyers — Jeff St. John

• Duh, solar power doesn’t work at night — but it excels during the day — Dan McCarthy

• Data center demand is soaring, and off-grid gas won’t fix the problem — Kathryn Krawczyk