Minnesota auto dealers prepare for EVs while fighting clean car rules

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: The Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association hires an electric vehicle specialist to support members even as it continues its legal fight against the state’s clean car standards. (Energy News Network)

ALSO:
• More than a dozen Chicago suburbs are selected to participate in a ComEd pilot program that prepares communities for electric vehicle adoption and charging infrastructure. (Wednesday Journal)
• A major Michigan automotive supplier plans a $112.5 million expansion to ramp up production of electronic systems in electric vehicles. (MiBiz)

OIL & GAS:
• Ohio lawmakers pass legislation that redefines natural gas as ​“green energy” and opens all state land to oil and gas drilling, sending the proposal to Gov. Mike DeWine. (Cleveland.com)
• A North Dakota utility seeks state approval to expand a natural gas plant, citing the need to accommodate rapid development of data centers and cryptocurrency mining in the region. (Bismarck Tribune)

PIPELINES:
• The Keystone pipeline’s operator has started recovering at least a small portion of the crude oil spilled from a 14,000-barrel leak last week. (Associated Press)
• Federal regulators have not set a timeline for reopening the pipeline as the operator sends more resources to ramp up the cleanup effort. (S&P Global)
• Federal regulators this week are scheduled to consider the need for a St. Louis-area natural gas pipeline, which has been operating under a temporary permit. (Bloomberg Law)

UTILITIES: A small city surrounded by Detroit now has federal funding to support its plan for self-generation and microgrids to wean off its dependence on DTE Energy. (Bridge Michigan)

RENEWABLES: Northern Ohio county officials approve a resolution making it more difficult for developers to build renewable energy projects there without local township approval. (WTOL)

SOLAR: A developer meets with residents to share plans for a 300 MW solar project proposed in northwestern Wisconsin. (La Crosse Tribune)

UTILITIES: Kansas regulators raise concerns about Evergy’s request to spend $1.2 billion on capital projects and its potential effect on ratepayers. (KWCH)

COAL: Tall smokestacks at North Dakota’s largest coal plant come down as the facility is decommissioned and repurposed to run on natural gas. (Bismarck Tribune)