Nebraska utility, advocates agree on net-zero goal but not timeline

UTILITIES: The Omaha Public Power District and the Sierra Club each use modeling to show the utility can reach net-zero carbon emissions, though they disagree on how fast it could be done. (Energy News Network)

ALSO: ComEd proposes $21.1 million in customer bill credits to address an ongoing legislative bribery scandal, but a utility watchdog called the amount ​“chump change.” (Chicago Tribune)

PIPELINES: The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers urge the U.S. Supreme Court to reject an appeal seeking to reinstate a permit for the Dakota Access pipeline. (Bismarck Tribune)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Minnesota companies gear up for a wave of at-home electric vehicle charger installations where drivers will most often repower their cars. (Star Tribune)
• The share value of electric vehicle startup Rivian dropped to a record low late last week ahead of likely supply challenges in scaling up production. (Reuters)

EFFICIENCY: Minnesota groups and utilities partner on outreach efforts to improve energy efficiency and weatherization at mobile homes. (Sahan Journal)

CLEAN ENERGY: It will likely be a few years until Illinois residents see a spike in renewable energy development under the state’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. (St. Louis Public Radio)

WIND: Controversial utility-scale wind energy plans in central Michigan reignite familiar disputes over public health and property values among neighbors on social media. (BuzzFeed News)

OIL & GAS: Untapped recoverable oil in western North Dakota has dropped significantly over the past eight years as the number of new wells grows, according to a federal report. (Associated Press)

CARBON CAPTURE:
• A carbon dioxide pipeline developer is fighting Iowa regulators’ order to reveal the names of businesses and governments in the path of the $4.5 billion project. (Associated Press)
• Former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad is working in support of the pipeline developer to urge residents to back the project. (WHO-13)

GRID: The head ITC Michigan says the transportation company will play a key role in facilitating the electric vehicle and clean energy transitions. (MiBiz)

NUCLEAR: Nebraska’s two largest utilities are closely watching the potential role that smaller, advanced nuclear reactors could play in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. (Omaha World-Herald)

BIOGAS: Michigan regulators establish a working group to determine renewable natural gas’ potential to heat homes and reduce methane emissions. (MLive)

COMMENTARY:
• A Chicago Transit Authority official discusses the agency’s plan to cut emissions by moving to an electrified bus fleet in the coming years. (Energy News Network)
• The Mahoning Valley in northeastern Ohio is an ideal location to site another electric vehicle battery component manufacturing plant, an editorial board writes. (Youngstown Vindicator)