Minnesota takes lead in promoting transmission along highways

GRID: An organization pushing to build transmission lines along highways recently scored a legislative win in Minnesota, and now looks to expand the policy to other states. (Canary Media)

ALSO: Consumers Energy is burying 2 miles of overhead power lines in eastern Michigan to improve grid reliability in an area prone to outages. (WJRT)

OVERSIGHT: An Ohio bill that surfaced after the HB 6 scandal and would require consumer representation on the state’s Public Utilities Commission is up for a first hearing today. (WOSU)

CLIMATE: Climate change-related severe storms have caused losses for insurers in Minnesota for six of the last seven years, likely driving higher insurance premiums and home prices for buyers. (MPR News)

UTILITIES: Indiana consumer and environmental advocates oppose a proposed Duke Energy rate increase that they contend would further the utility’s reliance on coal and volatile fuel costs. (Herald-Times)

OIL & GAS: Residents are ordered to evacuate a 16-story Youngstown, Ohio apartment building that neighbors a building that was structurally damaged from a natural gas explosion and is at risk of collapsing. (Associated Press)

SOLAR:

• About an hour west of Madison, Wisconsin’s largest solar farm is generating enough power for tens of thousands of homes while generating crucial income for the farmer landowner. (WISN)
• Construction starts on a 250 MW solar project in western Michigan that’s part of Consumers Energy’s plan to add 8,000 MW of solar by 2040. (Renewable Energy World)

TRANSPORTATION: The city of Detroit is piloting a public transportation program that will use on-demand, self-driving shuttles in portions of the city to benefit older or disabled residents. (Model D)

EFFICIENCY: Ohio awards $5.6 million in energy efficiency grants for six projects across the state that aim to cut buildings’ energy use. (Cleveland.com)

POWER PLANTS: Ameren Missouri seeks permission to build a $900 million, 800 MW natural gas-fired peaking plant that would run during periods of high demand. (Daily Energy Insider)

COMMENTARY: A GOP state representative from Michigan says new federal tailpipe emissions regulations that accommodate an influx of electric vehicles would disrupt the state’s primary industry. (Bridge)