More federal efforts to undercut renewables

This roundup of energy news headlines comes from our Midwest Energy News newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning.

RENEWABLES

• Critics say a recent Trump administration order requiring federal leasing decisions to factor in ​“capacity density” for wind and solar projects is based on misinformation from the fossil fuel industry and marks another move to undercut clean energy. (Canary Media)

SOLAR

• The Trump administration places steep restrictions on a federal program that has helped thousands of farmers install solar projects to lower their energy bills and earn extra income. (Canary Media)

• U.S. solar construction is on pace for another record year, though the trend could be short lived as federal tax credits expire and make projects more costly, and as the Trump administration props up fossil fuel projects. (Canary Media)

• A northeastern Nebraska board advances plans for a large, 360 MW solar project that has divided local residents. (Sioux City Journal)

• Michigan solar contractors say they’re seeing a rush of customers looking to install rooftop projects before lucrative federal tax credits end later this year. (MLive)

CLIMATE

• A group of Wisconsin youth sues state utility regulators for allegedly favoring fossil fuel projects over renewables and failing to consider climate change when approving new projects. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

PIPELINES

• The state of North Dakota is in talks with the federal government to settle a dispute over Dakota Access pipeline costs after the executive branch was handed down a $28 million judgement in federal court. (North Dakota Monitor)

UTILITIES

• A Michigan panel approves petition language for a ballot initiative that seeks to ban regulated utilities from making contributions to political campaigns. (Bridge)

CLEAN ENERGY

• Michigan Democrats and nonprofit leaders say the Trump administration’s moves to pull back clean energy funding and incentives will lead to even higher utility bills as electricity costs rise. (MLive)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• Developers looking to participate in Wisconsin’s buildout of EV charging stations under a federal program have until Sept. 5 to submit proposals to the state. (Wisconsin Examiner)

GRID

• The Grain Belt Express transmission project has pitted Chicago-based Invenergy, the country’s largest privately held renewable energy generator, against landowners fighting to keep the project off their property. (Chicago Tribune)

• A Nebraska utility approves a $26.7 million contract to build a new transmission line to support the capacity of new natural gas plants coming online and growing electricity demand. (Omaha World-Herald)

EFFICIENCY

• Stronger energy efficiency requirements in Michigan’s building codes are on hold as homebuilders sue the state claiming the rules would be too costly and that the agency has violated the rulemaking process. (Great Lakes Echo)

DATA CENTERS

• A South Dakota Republican congress member calls blanket opposition to data centers unacceptable and un-American as the U.S. attempts to compete with other countries on AI. (South Dakota Searchlight)

BIOFUELS

• Biofuel industry groups say gasoline with higher blends of ethanol can overcome consumer concerns with the right marketing. (South Dakota Searchlight)

NEW FROM CANARY 

• Trump admin halts construction of nearly finished offshore wind farm — Clare Fieseler

• Clean energy is getting its own national day of action. It’s about time. — Alison F. Takemura

• Why power bills are rising — and why that’s not changing soon — Kathryn Krawczyk