Michigan ranks among top states for power outages

GRID: Michigan ranks among the top states for power outages in recent years as extreme weather, growing demand and aging infrastructure strain the power grid, according to a Climate Central analysis. (CNN)

ALSO:
• Nebraska Public Power District officials present plans for a new transmission line in central Nebraska. (News Channel Nebraska)
• Ameren Illinois hosts a public open house for a planned transmission project in Peoria to support community growth. (WMBD)

PIPELINES:
• A Minnesota judge rules that county officials wrongly blocked access to a private driveway that was a key access point for an Indigenous-led Line 3 pipeline protest. (Star Tribune)
• A growing number of Iowa landowners are calling local authorities with complaints about carbon pipeline surveyors accessing their property, though under state law they are not trespassing. (Radio Iowa)

SOLAR:
• Minnesota regulators are set to vote tomorrow on Xcel Energy’s massive Sherco Solar project after state and utility officials agreed to a price cap. (Star Tribune)
• Construction could start this year after local officials give final approval for a $164.7 million, 150 MW solar project in northern Indiana. (South Bend Tribune)
• Michigan’s second-largest city is seeing cost savings from a recently completed solar project that powers a water filtration and delivery plant along Lake Michigan. (FOX 17)
• Developers plan to submit an application this fall to state regulators for a $292 million, 300 MW solar project in northwestern Wisconsin. (WQOW)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Rivian’s Normal, Illinois manufacturing plant shows the potential for the electric vehicle industry to bring activity to former automotive-reliant communities in the Midwest. (Washington Post)
• A Michigan specialty vehicle manufacturer secures the first 2,000-unit pre-order for its walk-in electric delivery vans. (MiBiz)
• A Michigan startup unveils a new anode-free battery pack designed to cut costs by up to 50% while delivering up to 600 miles of driving range. (Reuters)
• An Illinois consumer advocacy group releases an online buyer’s guide for people considering buying an electric vehicle. (WCBU)

NUCLEAR: A year after nearly shutting down for financial reasons, an Illinois nuclear plant remains a local economic driver that provides key tax revenue for a school district. (WREX)

CLIMATE: The Biden administration prepares to announce a more than $3 billion program to fund projects that reduce or sequester greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture and forestry. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

GEOTHERMAL: A first-of-its-kind program in Illinois creates group-buying options for residential geothermal heating and cooling projects. (WCIA)

HYDROELECTRIC: The University of Notre Dame recently dedicated a 2.5 MW hydroelectric facility that will generate about 7% of the campus’ electricity needs. (Environment and Energy Leader)

COMMENTARY: The owner and operator of one of the first Minneapolis gas stations to offer high-speed EV charging says Minnesota regulators shouldn’t allow Xcel Energy to dominate the charging marketplace. (Star Tribune)