Minnesota solar incentives expanded for low-income residents

SOLAR: A new Minnesota law will require Xcel Energy to set aside half of its budget for a popular solar incentive program for income-qualified customers. (Energy News Network)

ALSO: Wisconsin regulators reject Madison Gas and Electric’s request to eliminate net metering and change how residential customers are compensated for their excess solar power. (Wisconsin Examiner)

UTILITIES:

• American Electric Power discloses that it is in negotiations with federal regulators to resolve allegations about the utility’s role in the bribery scandal around Ohio’s nuclear bailout bill. (Columbus Dispatch)
• Kansas regulators deny an open records request seeking to disclose invoices of gas suppliers that have been accused of price gouging during a winter 2021 storm. (Capital-Journal)

OIL & GAS: Preventable methane leaks from Ohio oil and gas wells are worth nearly $100 million and present an opportunity to both save money and reduce harmful climate emissions, according to a new report. (Ohio Capital Journal)

PIPELINES:

• A retired professor in Illinois helped build a coalition of landowners that were ultimately successful in fighting the development of a five-state carbon pipeline. (Inside Climate News)
• Iowa regulators resume hearings today after a month-long pause on Summit Carbon Solutions’ permit request for a carbon pipeline, which also would have an expanded footprint in North Dakota. (NWestIowa.com; Iowa Capital Dispatch)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• Domestic electric vehicle production is at stake as the Biden administration prepares guidance on EV tax breaks that could take a hard line against battery components made in China. (Politico)
• Applications are now open through January in Illinois for up to $4,000 rebates for electric passenger cars and $1,500 for electric motorcycles. (FOX 2)
• Minnesota’s electric vehicle rebate program that received $16 million in state funding earlier this year is still under development. (Star Tribune)

RENEWABLES: Local governments in the tri-state area of Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin grapple with zoning regulations as developers pursue a growing number of wind and solar projects. (Telegraph Herald)

CLIMATE: Elected officials and local advocates in southwestern Detroit call for a federal Green New Deal that would increase spending to mitigate disproportionate pollution in environmental justice neighborhoods. (Detroit News)

HYDROGEN: Leaders of a Midwestern hydrogen production hub spanning Illinois, Michigan and Indiana say hydrogen produced by fossil fuels still has the potential to reduce overall emissions. (Post-Tribune)

EFFICIENCY: A $3.1 million Ohio grant program will help low-income communities pay for energy-efficient streetlights and lighting on other municipal properties. (Business Journal)