Ohio GOP looks to save coal

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.

COAL

• GOP-backed draft legislation in Ohio would nullify a previous settlement agreement to close a 620 MW coal plant by the end of 2028, a move the plant owner supports while echoing the Trump administration’s claims about reliability. (Canary Media)

CLEAN ENERGY

• Ohio Democratic Gov.-elect Amy Acton pledged to lower energy costs by supporting renewable energy development and energy efficiency improvements — a plan that may be able to gain some traction now that Republicans have lost their supermajority in the state House. (Canary Media)
• Ohio lawmakers advance a bill in the lame duck session that would make state policy favor ​“affordable, reliable and clean” energy from new power plants, which would make it harder to build renewables and favor gas and nuclear. (Cleveland.com)

DATA CENTERS

• A Missouri judge throws out a requirement set by the city of St. Louis that the developer of a $3.1 billion data center to use 2.4 MW of renewable energy to power the facility. (St. Louis Public Radio)

STORAGE

• Missouri regulators approve Ameren’s plan to build three more grid storage facilities that will complement solar to replace generation lost from recently retired coal plants. (Missouri Independent)

NUCLEAR

• Purdue University will partner with the Department of Energy to design and build support structures for small modular nuclear reactors. (Indianapolis Star)
• Dairyland Power Cooperative is exploring bringing nuclear power generation back to a western Wisconsin site that’s been decommissioned for nearly 40 years. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

OVERSIGHT

• The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association wants Gov.-elect Amy Acton (D) to require Public Utilities Commission members to interview to keep their positions in January as part of a sweeping review of the agency. (Cleveland.com)

SOLAR

• General Motors signs power purchase agreements for two commercial solar projects totaling 300 MW in Michigan to further reduce the company’s operational emissions. (Detroit News)
• Southeastern Indiana county officials delay a vote on new solar restrictions that could include size limits and a requirement for developers to organize and pay for public feedback meetings. (WCPO)

UTILITIES

• Wisconsin consumer advocates want the incoming Democratic-led Legislature to focus on energy affordability by limiting utility profits on investments and ensuring data centers don’t shift costs on ratepayers. (Wisconsin Public Radio)
• The city council in a St. Louis suburb will soon learn more details behind $15.6 million in overspending by the city’s electric department related to fighting a coal plant closure and other litigation. (St. Louis Public Radio)

BIOFUELS

• Chevron will reopen an Iowa biodiesel plant that shut down in 2024 during an industry downturn, citing improved market conditions. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)
• Ohio lawmakers consider legislation to create a production tax credit to bring biodiesel production to the state and expand the market for the state’s soybean farmers. (Cleveland.com)