North Dakota governor candidate has close ties to oil and gas

OIL & GAS: North Dakota’s likely next governor, who earns nearly all of his personal income from the oil and gas industry, if elected would chair two bodies that regulate the industry in a state with already weak disclosure laws. (North Dakota Monitor/​ProPublica)

EMISSIONS: Minnesota manufacturer 3M sets Scope 3 emission-reduction targets that aim to limit the greenhouse gases produced from suppliers and the transportation of goods. (Star Tribune)

GRID: Groups asking the Illinois Supreme Court to overturn a ruling blocking construction on the Grain Belt Express transmission project say appellate judges misinterpreted state law and jeopardized the $7 billion project. (E&E News, subscription)

NUCLEAR: Ohio is positioned to seize on growing interest in nuclear power by boosting capacity at two existing plants and retrofitting eight coal plants to run on nuclear power. (Cleveland.com, subscription)

SOLAR: A central Ohio solar project secures contracts with two local farmers to incorporate sheep grazing to keep vegetation from overtaking solar panels. (WCMH)

WIND: Excavators begin removing dozens of used wind turbine components that had sat for four years in a Minnesota community after companies failed to recycle them. (Star Tribune)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• The Trump campaign tries to capitalize on consumer backlash to electric vehicles with a nearly $1 million ad buy across Michigan falsely claiming that the Biden administration is mandating electric vehicle purchases. (E&E News, subscription)
• Illinois officials install the first electric vehicle charging stations at state parks and wildlife areas meant for overnight campers and day visitors. (FOX 2)

BIOENERGY: Pending legislation in Michigan would exempt manure digester plants from more rigorous state oversight of farm-based wastewater discharges as the state seeks to incentivize more bioenergy plants. (Circle of Blue)

CLIMATE: Experts say Iowa is in store for more weather extremes, including heavier rainfall matched with periods of drought, as climate change worsens. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)

COMMENTARY: A former Iowa lawmaker and energy regulator says better transmission infrastructure planning in the state will lead to lower energy bills for consumers. (Des Moines Register)