Ohio utilities look to lower grid reliability standards

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.

GRID

• First Energy utilities and Duke Energy are asking state regulators to lower reliability standards a year after missing targets for the average number of outages per customer and restoring power after an outage. (Canary Media)

COAL

• A federal appeals court panel hears Midwest states’ arguments that the Trump administration’s orders to keep a Michigan coal plant online are illegal and based on a manufactured energy emergency. (MLive)

• The Trump administration meanwhile argues that it alone has the authority to decide whether an energy emergency exists. (Inside Climate News)

OIL & GAS

• An investigation finds Illinois has mismanaged millions of dollars in operator fees meant to prevent orphan oil and gas wells from polluting properties and has failed to document how many wells exist across the state. (Chicago Tribune)

NUCLEAR

• Opponents of an Ohio bill to once again allow utilities to build and own nuclear plants say the plan revisits the same customer-backed utility model that led to the state’s largest public corruption scandal. (Cleveland.com)

PIPELINES

• A Wisconsin judge halts work on portions of Enbridge’s Line 5 reroute where the company needs additional permits to build in waterways. (Wisconsin Public Radio)

• Summit Carbon Solutions’ proposed new route for a multi-state carbon pipeline now excludes Minnesota, though company officials say a previously approved permit there could make it important for future phases. (Star Tribune)

• Candidates for the North Dakota Public Service Commission say carbon pipelines can benefit enhanced oil recovery efforts to boost oil well output. (North Dakota Monitor)

FOSSIL FUELS

• Duke Energy breaks ground on nearly 500 MW of new gas-fired power capacity at the utility’s oldest coal plant in Indiana. (WTWO)

SOLAR

• A northeastern Illinois county planning board again votes against plans for a 600 MW solar project, sending the project to the full county board for consideration. (Chicago Tribune)

UTILITIES

• Indiana is among several states where lawmakers and officials are attempting to block rate increases or reforming the utility financing model to make grid upgrades as the AI boom fuels costs for consumers. (Associated Press)

NEW FROM CANARY

• Solar to overtake coal on Texas grid for the first time ever this year — Julian Spector

• Soaring gas prices have drivers turning to EVs — except in the US — Kathryn Krawczyk