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Rivian to produce electric SUVs in central Illinois

By Andy Balaskovitz

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Rivian receives $827 million in state incentives to build the company’s mid-sized electric SUV in Normal, Illinois, and add at least 550 jobs over the next five years. (WIFR)

ALSO: North Dakota’s two U.S. senators sponsor legislation to eliminate federal tax incentives for electric vehicles. (North Dakota Monitor)

RENEWABLES:

CLIMATE: A public speaker, podcast host and environmental justice advocate discusses creating a bigger Black, Brown and Indigenous presence in the climate movement at a recent event in Chicago. (Energy News Network)

COAL:

  • Five years after Illinois passed a law to clean up coal ash storage pits, the toxic byproduct of burning coal still lingers in Waukegan while the state finalizes permits for the site. (Grist)
  • New federal rules to speed up the remediation of toxic coal ash sites will affect multiple properties in Northwest Indiana. (Post-Tribune)

SOLAR:

  • Twenty states now have community solar laws that require utilities to credit the electricity bills of subscribers to third-party owned projects, while another 10 states are considering similar bills. (Stateline)
  • More than 300 customers are subscribed to a 4.5 MW community solar project hosted by Alliant Energy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (CBS 2)
  • Missouri’s largest solar project is expected to be operational one year from now. (KTVO)

UTILITIES:

  • Former FirstEnergy executives argue in court that the utility can’t portray itself as a victim in a state criminal case after admitting to being a conspirator in a massive bribery scheme in federal court. (Toledo Blade)
  • A sentencing date is still unscheduled one year after an Illinois jury convicted two former ComEd executives of bribery conspiracy. (Center Square)

BIOFUELS: Updated federal guidance on a biofuel carbon credits program could provide a path to profitability for the developer of a large sustainable jet fuel plant in South Dakota. (South Dakota Searchlight)

MANUFACTURING: The developer of a low-emissions aluminum plant receiving $500,000 in federal funding is considering sites in Kentucky and surrounding states, which could mean a huge influx of jobs and nearby renewable energy development. (Grist)

WIND: Ameren shuts down a northeastern Missouri wind project to determine why a turbine broke apart and fell to the ground last week. (KTVO)

OIL & GAS: A pipeline leak releases about 10 barrels of oil into nearby waterways in western North Dakota. (Dickinson Press)

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