Minnesota looks to level playing field in utility rate cases

OVERSIGHT: A new Minnesota law aims to level the playing field and allow small nonprofits to be reimbursed for eligible costs for arguing energy cases before state regulators. (Energy News Network)

PIPELINES: Navigator CO2 asks Iowa regulators to suspend its carbon pipeline permit review until Illinois regulators approve the project. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

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EFFICIENCY: A Wisconsin legislative committee blocks a proposed statewide commercial building codes update that backers say would have saved electricity and lowered insurance costs. (Wisconsin Examiner)

GRID: Detroit-based DTE Energy unveils a five-year, $9 billion plan to improve grid reliability through more aggressive tree trimming and updated infrastructure. (MLive)

SOLAR:

• The owners of an Ohio farm plan to lease their land for a $150 million, 150 MW solar project. (WKBN)
• National solar experts say large corporations’ clean energy needs will contribute to nearly 7,800 MW of solar being built in Ohio over the next five years. (Ideastream)
• Ohio regulators recently authorized construction of a 140 MW solar project near the state’s southern border. (Farm and Dairy)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Utility Otter Tail Power is building 11 charging stations in western Minnesota to improve access for drivers. (MPR)

OIL & GAS: Kansas wildlife managers say remediation of an oil and wastewater spill last month is nearly complete, though monitoring of a creek and wildlife refuge will continue. (Lawrence Times)

STORAGE:

• University of Cincinnati researchers are developing a battery that improves storage performance at lower costs by using new materials to prevent short circuiting. (WVXU)
• An Indiana county planning commission recommends a 12-month moratorium on utility-scale battery storage projects until local regulations are approved. (WTCA)

COAL:

• Environmental advocates call on city leaders in a Chicago suburb to begin transitioning the city away from coal. (Naperville Sun)
• Alliant Energy starts demolishing an Iowa coal plant that opened in 1948 and closed in 2022. (KCRG)

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COMMENTARY:

• An Iowa editorial board says state regulators should grant local governments more authority to block carbon capture pipelines. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)
• Illinois leaders should ramp up pressure on federal regulators and congressional lawmakers to speed up the process of connecting renewable energy projects to the grid, an editorial board writes. (Chicago Sun-Times)