Potato lobby sows solar misinformation

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.

SOLAR

• Misinformation originating from Michigan lawmakers and potato industry advocates claims potatoes grown on farmland that has previously hosted solar installations are unsafe for food companies to buy. (Canary Media)

• An Illinois balcony solar bill may resurface next year as supporters work to address safety concerns and share experiences from other states. (NPR Illinois)

• Ranger Power’s proposed 1,000-acre expansion of a Michigan solar project is up for a key local vote as opposition builds from area landowners. (MLive)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• Ann Arbor, Michigan, plans to offer residents rebate checks of up to $7,500 to buy new EVs to spur adoption after federal incentives expired. (Detroit Free Press)

DATA CENTERS

• Illinois lawmakers may revisit a bill this summer to establish guardrails on data center development, including requirements that facilities pay for their own energy from renewable sources. (Capitol News Illinois)

• Michigan utility executives say the state could be missing out on major data center projects as they contend with local opposition. (MLive)

GRID

• Interest grows among northern Michigan utilities to bury power power lines after devastating winter ice storms crippled the grid, though cost remains a key barrier. (Grist)

OIL & GAS

• North Dakota oil executives say they must work quickly to advance enhanced oil recovery technology to improve Bakken oil field output while they have the Trump administration’s support. (North Dakota Monitor)

• A University of North Dakota energy research center starts to bring back dozens of furloughed employees as new funding contracts are signed with the federal government. (North Dakota Monitor)

UTILITIES

• FirstEnergy’s request to increase distribution charges for grid infrastructure improvements could cost average residential ratepayers $100 more a year and nearly $180 a year in three years. (Cleveland.com)

BATTERIES

• Ann Arbor, Michigan-based battery energy storage startup VoltHarbor raises $2 million in a seed round to further its technology designed to help data centers use end-of-life EV batteries. (Crain’s Detroit)

• A northeastern Ohio EV battery plant jointly owned by General Motors and LG Energy Solution delays the return of hundreds of workers as EV demand remains weak. (Reuters)

NEW FROM CANARY

• Thanks to two new laws, more Virginians can save with community solar — Elizabeth Ouzts

• Voters in 9 states will pick the people overseeing their power bills — Kathryn Krawczyk