Michigan, Illinois coalitions want EV drivers to pay more

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Coalitions in Michigan and Illinois look for alternative revenue sources to make up for lost gasoline taxes from electric vehicle drivers. (MLive, Chicago Sun-Times)

ALSO:
• Illinois car dealers appeal a circuit court ruling allowing electric vehicle producer Rivian to sell vehicles directly to customers. (WGEM)
• Rural Michigan utilities express concern about being able to access federal funding to install electric vehicle charging stations. (Detroit News, subscription)

UTILITIES: ComEd files a record-high $1.5 billion, four-year rate increase request with Illinois regulators to bolster grid investments as the state transitions to clean energy. (Chicago Sun-Times)

OHIO:
• Attorneys for former House Speaker Larry Householder seek to prevent some recordings involving agents and co-conspirators from being played at his upcoming trial. (WEWS)
• The Ohio Supreme Court agrees to hear the state attorney general’s appeal to re-freeze the bank accounts of a former top utility regulator who was named in part of the HB 6 corruption scandal. (Ohio Capital Journal)

CLEAN ENERGY: A North Dakota coal industry group is helping to fund efforts to weaken a proposed Minnesota bill calling for carbon-free electricity by 2040 by including coal carbon capture projects. (Energy and Policy Institute)

COAL: The Environmental Law and Policy Center launches a new initiative to push for parkland as well as solar, energy storage and possibly green hydrogen production at former Michigan coal plants along the Great Lakes. (MiBiz)

PIPELINES:
• An Iowa county’s Democratic and Republican parties hold a joint meeting to build landowner opposition to a proposed carbon capture pipeline. (Globe Gazette)
• South Dakota regulators deny landowners’ effort to halt a proposed carbon pipeline based on complaints about the developer failing to meet notification deadlines to landowners. (South Dakota Searchlight)

WIND: An Illinois county places a six-month moratorium on new wind energy permits, which will not affect a developer’s recent proposal. (Journal-Republican)

SOLAR:
• The Nebraska Public Power District plans a nearly 1 MW community solar project on land that could be repurposed after catastrophic flooding in 2019. (News Channel Nebraska)
• Ameren Missouri files a request with state regulators to connect a developer’s proposed 250 MW solar project to the grid. (News-Press)

OIL & GAS: The Bakken region’s oil output is expected to rise next month to its highest levels in more than two years following a stagnant few months. (Reuters, Star Tribune)

COMMENTARY:
• The head of the Minnesota Rural Electric Association says a fast-tracked state bill calling for carbon-free power by 2040 would jeopardize reliability by closing gas plants too fast. (Star Tribune)
• An Ohio public policy analyst says more research is needed to determine the emission-reduction impacts of a new state law labeling natural gas as ​“green.” (Ohio Capital Journal)
• A Republican state lawmaker’s proposed statewide energy plan in Indiana would maintain the status quo, fail to protect low-income customers and ignore clean energy benefits, an editorial board writes. (Journal Gazette)