Ohio cities tap new mapping tools to address environmental justice

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: Ohio cities are using sophisticated new mapping tools to identify disparities in climate risks, pollution and energy burdens, which could help when seeking federal infrastructure funds. (Energy News Network)

UTILITIES:
• Two administrative law judges find that Minnesota gas utilities acted prudently during a February 2021 storm and should be allowed to pass on $660 million in extra gas costs to customers. (Star Tribune)
• Community organizers held a festival last weekend to promote a plan to municipalize Ann Arbor, Michigan’s electric utility. (Michigan Daily)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Automaker Stellantis and Samsung partner on a $2.5 billion electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant in Indiana that’s expected to create 1,400 jobs. (Detroit Free Press)
• A U.S. House committee breaks along party lines over a proposed bill to permanently ban mining near Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness as a developer seeks to extract metals used in electric vehicle manufacturing. (Minnesota Reformer)
• Detroit’s transit operator adds four electric buses to its fleet, which is ​“good for all residents whether they ride the bus or not.” (Detroit Free Press)
• White House National Climate Adviser Gina McCarthy says Michigan is providing ​“tremendous opportunities” to lead on transportation innovation. (Michigan Advance)

COAL: A coal mine formerly owned by Murray Energy will permanently close next month and lay off all 106 workers. (Columbus Dispatch)

SOLAR: Ranger Power releases more details about plans for a 200 MW solar project in central Indiana. (Kokomo Tribune)

GRID: A Hitachi plant in Missouri that produces electric grid infrastructure components will undergo a $10 million expansion. (Fulton Sun)

PIPELINES:
• A carbon pipeline developer tells county officials that it has acquired about 60% of the land easements it needs in Iowa and hopes to start construction in the summer of 2023. (The Messenger)
• Iowa county officials consider a letter to state regulators formally opposing a planned carbon capture pipeline, which ​“may influence other counties to say enough is enough.” (Daily Gate City)

POLLUTION:
• A shuttered Detroit incinerator that burned trash for steam and electricity and closed in 2019 after exceeding pollution emissions standards will be demolished later this year. (Detroit Free Press)
• An annual Iowa air pollution report shows sulfur dioxide emissions have dropped by 90% and nitrogen dioxide emissions have dropped 70% over the past 20 years. (Radio Iowa)