Minnesota carbon emissions on a steep decline

EMISSIONS: Minnesota’s carbon emissions dropped 23% from 2005 to 2020, in part because of pandemic-related shutdowns but also because of the state’s shift from coal power to clean electricity. (Star Tribune)

OHIO: Attorneys for former House Speaker Larry Householder accuse the judge of bias toward their client based on a political race more than 20 years ago, which may be a strategy to have the case tossed out on appeal. (Ohio Capital Journal)

RENEWABLES:
• Critics of a new Illinois law preventing local wind and solar regulations from being more strict than statewide rules say the law strips power from local governments. (Journal Courier)
• DTE Energy’s CEO says the Detroit-based utility is committed to helping nearby Ann Arbor achieve its 100% renewable energy target by 2030. (MLive)

STORAGE: Xcel Energy will soon add long-duration iron air batteries with a much longer storage capacity than lithium ion to its clean energy portfolio. (CBS Minnesota)

GRID: Minnesota-based Allete would be the operator and a key owner of a $2.5 billion transmission line between North Dakota and eastern Montana that aims to connect eastern and western power grids. (Star Tribune)

PIPELINES: An Iowa county looks closer at potential siting regulations for carbon pipelines as a developer pursues a project there. (KMALand)

UTILITIES: A proposed 15-year franchise agreement reached between Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and ComEd lacks comprehensive ethics reforms that were initially sought in the fallout of the utility’s bribery scandal. (WTTW)

WIND: A North Dakota family’s lawsuit seeking monetary damages from a wind farm operator will move to a jury trial next year. (KFYR)

SOLAR:
• State regulators reject plans for a 68 MW solar project in northwestern Ohio based on local opposition. (Scioto Post)
• As net metering is phased out in several major markets, state-sponsored community solar programs are expanding. (PV Magazine)

CARBON CAPTURE: An Indiana ethanol producer signs an agreement with a Canadian company for a carbon capture and storage project at its Indiana facility. (Inside Indiana Business)

BIOFUELS: Michigan State University researchers are working to overcome barriers of using switchgrass as biofuel feedstock. (WOOD-TV)

COMMENTARY:
• Two dozen college students sign a letter praising the Democratic-led Minnesota Legislature for acting swiftly on climate change policy this year. (Minnesota Reformer)
• The head of a Minnesota nonprofit that recently issued first-of-its-kind renewable energy certificates for green hydrogen says the fuel source is poised to be a key decarbonization tool. (Utility Dive)