Prairie Island tribe advances net-zero plan in Minnesota

CLEAN ENERGY: The Prairie Island Indian Community in southeastern Minnesota makes progress on a net-zero carbon plan that includes a solar installation, geothermal and efficiency. (Sahan Journal)

ALSO: Renewable energy combined with energy waste reduction programs met 25% of Michigan’s power needs in 2022, according to state regulators. (Michigan Radio)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• A Chicago parking garage owner partners with ComEd on a plan to install 300 charging stations in its downtown facilities by 2026. (Chicago Sun-Times)
• A new skills training initiative in Detroit will train residents to be electric vehicle and charging station technicians. (Detroit News)

UTILITIES:

• Missouri utility regulators approve Evergy’s request to align a default customer pricing plan with traditional rates rather than automatically enroll them in new time-of-use rates. (Missouri Independent)
• Illinois’ attorney general sues an alternative electric supplier, claiming ​“deceptive and unfair tactics” led to millions of dollars in rate increases for customers. (Chicago Sun-Times)

COAL: An Indiana trucking company that recently filed for bankruptcy had cash flow issues resulting from declining coal prices. (Trucking Dive)

RENEWABLES: A western Nebraska board postpones a vote on commercial wind and solar regulations as dozens of residents urge officials to reject development. (North Platte Telegraph)

PIPELINES:

• Enbridge asks a Michigan permitting board to step in and advocate for a faster federal environmental review of a proposed tunnel for Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac. (Bridge)
• A Sierra Club attorney says landowners are entitled to more information about why Navigator CO2 seeks to pause a carbon pipeline project in Iowa. (Des Moines Register)

SOLAR:

• Minneapolis community organizations are encouraged by new policies aimed at making community solar more accessible in historically disadvantaged communities. (MPR)
• A southern Minnesota school district considers adding solar panels to two more schools after recently completing projects at an elementary and middle school. (Albert Lea Tribune)
• Indiana utility NIPSCO brings online a 256 MW solar project near a soon-to-retire coal plant. (Times of Northwest Indiana)
• A Canadian solar panel manufacturer is scouting sites near Minneapolis for a new facility that could employ more than 500 people. (Finance and Commerce)
• Graduates from an Illinois college’s solar training program are installing panels on the school president’s home. (WMBD)

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WIND: A 200 MW wind project comes online in Kansas that will use aircraft detection lights that only blink at night when aircraft are near to reduce light pollution. (North American Windpower)

COMMENTARY: A Michigan Democrat plans to introduce legislation that would prohibit investor-owned utilities from donating to dark money nonprofits to bring more accountability and benefit customers. (Detroit Free Press)