Midwest states partner to form hydrogen hub

HYDROGEN:
• Seven Midwest states partner to accelerate the development of hydrogen as a clean energy alternative for vehicles and factories. (Associated Press)
• A company plans to begin producing emissions-free hydrogen at an Xcel Energy nuclear plant in Minnesota starting in 2024. (Utility Dive)

GRID: Critics say regional grid operators have been caught flat footed amid the widespread shift to clean energy, creating bottlenecks as renewable energy projects seek to come online. (Missouri Independent)

SOLAR:
• The Indiana Supreme Court heard oral arguments last week in a case involving a utility’s rooftop solar program that critics say discourages adoption among customers. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
• Ohio regulators in the coming months will consider a proposed 280 MW solar project northwest of Columbus. (Union County Daily Digital)
• The number of U.S. schools generating solar power has more than doubled over the last seven years as districts seek long-term cost savings. (Grist)
• Illinois opens applications for the next round of its recently expanded state incentive program for rooftop and community solar projects. (WAND)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• A small, rural Illinois school district plans to replace all six of its buses with electric models that are powered by onsite solar panels. (K-12 Dive)
• Automakers engaged in a ​“range war” for electric vehicles consider the potential for adding energy storage capacity to vehicles. (Utility Dive)

BIOFUELS: The president of the South Dakota Farmers Union expresses concern about the stability of the state’s ethanol market amid the transition to electric vehicles. (South Dakota Public Broadcasting)

PIPELINES:
• A rural Iowa county will hire an outside attorney to help craft a hazardous liquids pipeline ordinance as a developer seeks to build a carbon pipeline through the area. (Waverly Newspapers)
• Local officials consider a 2020 carbon pipeline rupture in Mississippi that sickened dozens of people as they consider the public health implications of proposed projects in Iowa. (KTIV)

CLIMATE: Experts say Republican state officials who are targeting environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing are limiting options for generating financial returns for their constituents. (Ohio Capital Journal)

OIL & GAS: The owner of one of Illinois’ largest natural gas plants wins a temporary injunction blocking the state from enforcing emission restrictions under the state’s year-old clean energy law. (Crain’s Chicago Business, subscription)

CLEAN ENERGY: A North Dakota commission approves more than $15 million in grants for three energy projects, including low-carbon hydrogen facilities and geothermal-powered oil and gas production. (Bismarck Tribune)

COMMENTARY:
• Authors of a new climate solutions book say local activism to pull ​“hidden levers of power,” such as at school boards and utility commissions, can lead to broader action from government officials. (Energy News Network)
• A nonprofit official says a proposed sulfide mine in northern Minnesota would add to the state’s carbon footprint and spread contamination. (MinnPost)
• As Michigan regulators seek to fast-track utility clean energy pilot programs, transparency, engagement and opportunities for collaboration will be key in determining their effectiveness, advocates say. (Union of Concerned Scientists)