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Ohio commercial building owners get efficiency support

By Andy Balaskovitz

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EMISSIONS: Four Ohio cities will use $10 million in Inflation Reduction Act funding to develop new voluntary building performance standards and a resource hub to connect commercial building owners with services and incentives to cut energy use and emissions. (Energy News Network)

WASTE-TO-ENERGY: At least two of Minnesota’s seven trash incinerators that burn waste for energy face an uncertain future as communities debate whether burning or burying trash is better for limiting emissions. (Star Tribune)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: GM is reportedly in talks to buy electric vehicle batteries that use technology from a Chinese company but are produced in the U.S., similar to rival Ford’s EV battery plan. (Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION: An Iowa trucking company equips more than 500 trucks with new devices that not only track mileage but also driving habits that can improve efficiency and cut emissions. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)

SOLAR: Plans for a commercial solar project near a large wetlands preserve in Kansas divide local residents who support the potential economic benefits and others who fear negative impacts on bird migration. (Wichita Eagle)

CARBON CAPTURE:

  • The Iowa chapter of the Sierra Club files a lawsuit seeking to overturn state regulators’ approval of the Summit carbon pipeline. (Radio Iowa)
  • The U.S. EPA claims the operator of the country’s first carbon dioxide injection wells, located in Decatur, Illinois, violated its permit by allowing fluids in unauthorized zones. (E&E News, subscription)

GRID:

  • Four Republicans from Kansas’ congressional delegation back legislation that would ban the use of federal funding to condemn property for a proposed national electric transmission corridor. (Kansas Reflector)
  • A proposed settlement would let AES Ohio invest $240 million over the next four years on various smart grid infrastructure. (Dayton Daily News) 
  • The market monitor for MISO expresses skepticism about the grid operator’s estimates about the benefits of a proposed $21 billion transmission build out. (RTO Insider, subscription)

HYDROELECTRIC: Ten aging Michigan hydroelectric dams that Consumers Energy is considering selling receive $23 million in federal funding for infrastructure upgrades. (MLive, subscription)

BIOENERGY: A water conservation group sues an Iowa county claiming an inconsistent application of local zoning regulations allowed for a renewable natural gas facility. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

BIOMASS: A clean energy startup that uses artificial intelligence to help divert manufacturing and industrial wood waste for biomass power will base its headquarters in western Michigan. (Crain’s, subscription)

Editor’s note: A story in Friday’s newsletter incorrectly reported the size of a solar project planned at a former Michigan coal plant. The project will be 85 MW.

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