Renewable restrictions worsen power demand woes

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.

RENEWABLES

• Ohio faces a power supply crunch from data centers because state restrictions on solar and wind have led to project withdrawals and missed development opportunities totaling more than 5 GW of capacity, according to a parks advocacy group. (Dayton Daily News)

CARBON CAPTURE

• The U.S. EPA is reviewing permit requests for 27 carbon capture and storage injection wells in Illinois, where critics see an industry moving too quickly despite potential risks to aquifers. (The New Lede)

CLEAN ENERGY

• The Republican-led Michigan House votes to repeal the state’s 100% clean energy standard, though the effort stands no chance of advancing in the Democratic-led Senate. (Bridge)

GRID

• Kansas regulators approve part of Evergy’s proposed 133-mile transmission project, but say the utility must consider a new route for a portion that would have moved through endangered grassland. (Kansas Reflector)

BATTERIES

• Ford announces a new subsidiary to make batteries for the grid and data centers to fill what executives say is a gap in the market and as electric vehicle demand slows. (E&E News)

NUCLEAR

• Nuclear power production has bipartisan support in Missouri, though state lawmakers disagree over whether ratepayers should have to cover the upfront costs to build new generation. (Springfield News-Leader)

SOLAR

• A Michigan community foundation that for the past four years has facilitated the distribution of charitable dollars from a solar developer to the community ends its role as backlash grows toward the company’s latest project. (MLive)

• Former Republican Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty will take over as head of the Solar Energy Industries Association in what he sees as a crucial time for the industry. (E&E News)

• DTE Energy presents early plans to residents for a 150 MW solar project in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. (WLUC)

• An Illinois county planning board recommends stopping a proposed 600 MW solar project amid fierce public pushback. (WLS)

UTILITIES

• Officials with a ballot campaign to ban Michigan utilities from giving money to political leaders say they expect to gather enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot. (Detroit News)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• A growing Detroit nonprofit training mechanics and students to work on EVs sees a bigger role in educating the public on how they work. (WXYZ)