Michigan makes gains in plugging oil, gas wells

OIL & GAS: A $25 million federal grant allowed Michigan to plug 200 orphaned oil and gas wells in 2023, nearly half of all known orphaned wells in the state. (MLive)

WASTE-TO-ENERGY: Youngstown, Ohio, officials halt plans for a facility that would convert recycled tires into synthetic gas in a neighborhood of predominantly Black residents. (Inside Climate News)

PIPELINES:

• Upcoming decisions on the Summit Carbon Solutions carbon pipeline and the Dakota Access pipeline loom large for North Dakota’s energy sector in 2024. (North Dakota Monitor)
• South Dakota county officials advance recommendations for creating carbon pipeline regulations, saying the ordinance should give regulators the ability to waive setback requirements and to consider how projects would economically impact livestock. (Sioux Falls Live)

GRID:

• 2024 could be a make-or-break year for lawmakers, regulators and utilities to push through major federal grid reforms to speed up the pace of transmission construction. (Canary Media)
• Engineers say upgrading inverters on the U.S. power grid is crucial to support the anticipated growth in variable power sources from wind and solar. (Utility Dive)

SOLAR: Officials in southern Illinois advance plans to purchase a vacant, 123-acre cemetery that’s owned by the state for a solar project. (FOX 2)

RENEWABLES: Indiana-based NiSource sells a minority stake in its utility NIPSCO for $2.16 billion that executives say will help the utility invest in more renewables. (Times of Northwest Indiana)

COAL: The owner of North Dakota’s largest coal plant, which is set to close in the coming years, expands a partnership to recycle more byproducts from coal burning for future uses. (Bismarck Tribune)

OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Supreme Court and federal district courts are weighing several cases this year that could significantly limit federal energy regulators’ ability to oversee climate and infrastructure policy. (E&E News)

WIND: Consumers Energy begins operating a 72-turbine, 201 MW wind project in central Michigan. (FOX 17)

EMISSIONS: A northern Michigan city hopes to reduce its local methane emissions by enrolling more restaurants in a composting program that diverts food waste from landfills. (WDIV)

UTILITIES: Minnesota utilities continue seeking rate increases for grid investments and clean energy as inflation on services remains stubborn for consumers. (Star Tribune)