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Pipelines, utility oversight on Midwest ballots

By Andy Balaskovitz

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ELECTION: Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota are among eight states in today’s election with contested seats for their statewide public utility commissions, which can play a key role in a state’s energy transition. (Grist)

ALSO:

  • South Dakota voters will decide whether to uphold a previously signed state law that aims to give landowner protections in pipeline cases but leaves the door open for regulatory consideration of disputed projects. (South Dakota Searchlight)
  • A national political organization has been targeting young Wisconsin voters on the topic of climate change to drive turnout for Kamala Harris. (Daily Cardinal)

GRID:

  • Minnesota regulators seek public input on Xcel Energy’s plans for a 170-mile transmission line that utility officials say would help connect 4,000 MW of wind and solar power to the grid. (MPR News)
  • Federal energy regulators grapple with requests to co-locate data centers near power plants, and whether that could further jeopardize the adequate supplies on the grid. (Utility Dive)

CLEAN ENERGY: With the help of supportive federal policy, the clean energy manufacturing boom is underway in states like Michigan, though the full extent of onshoring will take years. (Canary Media)

SOLAR:

  • A Nebraska utility says its new 9.9 MW solar project will go online next month. (KSNB)
  • Purdue and Michigan State university researchers collaborate on a project that aims to cut the power use of irrigation systems during peak times by integrating solar. (Hoosier Ag Today)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Illinois continues to set new records for annual electric vehicle sales even as automakers lower projections and scale back investments amid consumer concerns over costs and vehicle ranges. (Chicago Tribune, subscription)

PIPELINES: Consumers Energy completes a 55-mile natural gas pipeline replacement project in central Michigan that’s part of the utility’s $1.5 billion investment to modernize its gas pipeline system. (WLNS)

MICROGRIDS: Fort Wayne, Indiana, connects a hybrid microgrid system to power three city water and sewage treatment facilities with solar, battery storage, biogas and natural gas. (Microgrid Knowledge)

BIOGAS: The owner of a Michigan biogas plant has closed the facility amid a permit dispute with the state and as clean water advocates raise concerns about anaerobic digesters. (MLive, subscription)

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