Minnesota clean car law stands

EMISSIONS: The U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear Minnesota auto dealers’ challenge to the state’s vehicle emissions standards, which are now set to take effect next year. (Star Tribune)

HYDROGEN:

• Critics raise concerns about the potential emissions implications of fossil fuel-based hydrogen production as the Biden administration supports a major buildout at hubs across the U.S. (States Newsroom)
• The transit agency in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is set to begin a multi-year pilot program to deploy hydrogen fuel cell buses and reduce emissions. (WDIV)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• Ford is laying off about 700 workers building the electric F-150 truck, citing multiple supply chain constraints. (CNN)
• Iowa prepares to distribute $50 million in federal funding to build charging stations along the state’s highways. (Radio Iowa)
• Federal labor regulators propose $270,000 in fines after finding 19 health and safety violations at a General Motors joint venture electric vehicle battery plant in Ohio. (Associated Press)

WIND: A central Illinois county board approves a 300 MW wind project, though some members expressed reluctance and noted they lacked a choice based on a state law permitting commercial wind and solar projects. (Illinois Public Media)

PIPELINES:

• North Dakota regulators will hold a hearing on whether local siting ordinances apply to a developer’s proposed carbon capture pipeline. (Bismarck Tribune)
• Sioux City, Iowa, delays a vote on a resolution opposing the construction and operation of carbon pipelines to gather more information. (Sioux City Journal)
• Navigator CO2 cuts internal staffing and external contracting jobs as it considers next steps for a multi-state carbon pipeline that has generated landowner and regulatory opposition. (Bloomberg Law, subscription)

GRID:

• Illinois lawmakers this fall may reconsider legislation that Gov. J.B. Pritzker vetoed and would have given Ameren Illinois first rights to build transmission projects. (Illinois Radio Network)
• Wisconsin residents have through the end of the month to submit comments on Xcel Energy’s plan for a $500 million, high voltage transmission project that it hopes to start building in 2026. (WXOW)

STORAGE:

• A northern Indiana county approves a yearlong moratorium on utility-scale battery storage projects as officials craft local zoning regulations. (WTCA)
• A developer files an interconnection application with the Southwest Power Pool to build a 200 MW battery storage project in Kansas. (KSNW)

RENEWABLES:

• Indiana utility NIPSCO is embarking on its biggest transition during the company’s 113-year history as it builds 14 solar and wind projects to displace coal-fired generation. (Times of Northwest Indiana)
• A southwestern Michigan casino will become the first in the state to source 100% of its electricity needs from renewables. (Battle Creek Enquirer)