Clean energy journalism for a cooler tomorrow

Midwest Energy News — a daily newsletter

Michigan lawmakers back copper mine over environmental concerns

By Andy Balaskovitz

  • Link copied to clipboard

MATERIALS: A Michigan House panel approves a $50 million grant for a proposed Upper Peninsula copper mine that backers say is needed for the electric vehicle transition but environmentalists oppose because of local pollution concerns. (Bridge)

ALSO: The dispute mirrors the situation in northern Minnesota, where the mining industry anticipates support for copper and nickel mining proposals from the incoming Trump administration. (MinnPost)

OHIO: State lawmakers send a bill to Gov. Mike DeWine that would add nuclear power to the state’s definition of ​“green” energy and extend standard lease terms for fracking under state parks from three to five years. (Ideastream)

SOLAR: A 200 MW solar project with 110 MW of battery storage comes online in southeastern Wisconsin, the first large renewable energy project for the region. (Journal Sentinel)

CARBON CAPTURE:

  • State regulators in North Dakota and Minnesota are scheduled today to consider permits for Summit Carbon Solutions’ carbon capture pipeline and storage project. (Associated Press)
  • South Dakota regulators schedule six public input meetings for next month to discuss the same project’s permit application in that state. (South Dakota Searchlight)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

  • Milwaukee Public Schools and the city of Milwaukee receive nearly $18 million in federal funding to replace diesel buses and heavy duty vehicles with electric and zero-emissions models. (Wisconsin Public Radio)
  • Kansas lawmakers suggest raising electric vehicle registration fees, and dismiss ideas for a road-usage fee on drivers, as a way to generate more sustainable transportation infrastructure funding. (Kansas Reflector)

WIND: Eastern Iowa county officials next week will consider extending a moratorium on applications for various equipment needed to develop utility-scale wind projects. (Clinton Herald)

NUCLEAR: Federal regulators offer a tour of a shuttered southwestern Michigan nuclear plant where more than 1,000 employees and contractors are working to bring the plant back online next year. (WOOD-TV8)

OIL & GAS: The premier of Ontario, Canada, said he would cut off oil and gas and electricity imports into the United States if President-elect Trump issued sweeping tariffs on the country. (Associated Press)

BIOFUELS: Michigan lawmakers in the final days of this year’s session consider a bill that would subsidize purchases of sustainable aviation fuel that is produced in the state. (MLive)

STORAGE: A total of $7 million in rebates are now available for Minnesota homes and small businesses looking to install battery storage systems. (Star Tribune)

COAL:

  • A former coal ash storage site at a shuttered northwestern Michigan coal plant will be redeveloped into a neighborhood with housing, playgrounds, public trails and a community garden. (Traverse City Ticker)
  • Despite anticipated load growth from data centers, two coal plants owned by Ohio Valley Electric Corp. that are being subsidized by ratepayers will remain unprofitable for the ​“foreseeable future,” according to bond rating agency Fitch. (Checks and Balances Project)

UTILITIES: Ann Arbor, Michigan’s formation of a local utility that allows residents to voluntarily host renewable energy projects stemmed from reliability frustrations with DTE Energy. (Bridge)

COMMENTARY: Advanced grid technologies that increase the capacity and efficiency of transmission lines should be part of an ​“all of the above” energy strategy to meet growing demand, two former state regulators write. (Energy News Network)

read next