Solar recourse in Ohio

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

• Voters in an Ohio county will hold a referendum next spring to overturn a local ban on renewable energy projects, the first time a county in the state will have a chance to reverse local officials’ opposition. (Canary Media)

SOLAR

• Wisconsin utilities continue to push back on community solar legislation, arguing that projects shift costs to non-subscribers despite research showing systemwide benefits can outweigh the expense. (Canary Media)

• The Supreme Court of Ohio hears oral arguments over the proposed approval of a 2,100-acre solar project. (News and Sentinel)

COAL

• The U.S. Energy Department issues a third order requiring Michigan’s J.H. Campbell coal plant to stay open for another 90 days. (news release)

• A Nebraska utility delays a vote on retiring an Omaha coal plant while converting some units to natural gas as residents push back on leaders’ plans to extend the plant’s life. (WOWT)

• Michigan Democrats introduce a resolution opposing the Trump administration’s orders to keep a Michigan coal plant open beyond its scheduled closure, though the measure is unlikely to advance in the Republican-controlled House. (Michigan Advance)

NUCLEAR

• Anti-nuclear power groups file a federal lawsuit to halt the planned restart of the Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan, arguing that the plan should not have been permitted after the owner planned to permanently close it. (Bridge)

DATA CENTERS

• Michigan environmental and consumer advocates urge the state to update data center tax incentive guidance requiring them to demonstrate the ability to meet a 90% clean energy procurement target. (Planet Detroit)

• Michigan utility regulators will hold a public hearing on DTE Energy’s proposed contracts for a large data center after the utility requested an expedited review. (Michigan Advance)

• An Indiana data center developer says the industry can improve its transparency on water use and plans with local officials to avoid drawing public backlash to projects. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)

PIPELINES

• The Dakota Access pipeline developer takes the unusual step of asking the North Dakota Supreme Court to block Greenpeace’s countersuit in the Netherlands following a major pipeline-protest judgement against the nonprofit. (New York Times)

• An Iowa association representing counties seeks financial support to file a brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear Summit Carbon Solutions’ case attempting to block local ordinances against its carbon pipeline. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

• A court ruling is likely to come this winter following contested hearings over Enbridge’s Line 5 reroute plan around tribal land in Wisconsin. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

UTILITIES

• Michigan utility Consumers Energy plans to invest $13.7 billion in distribution and clean energy generation through 2029 as it prepares for load growth from new large customers. (Utility Dive)

AFFORDABILITY

• A program in Lincoln, Nebraska, helps landlords make energy-efficient building upgrades, so long as they keep rents affordable. (New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION

• The Standing Rock Nation is finishing a buildout of EV chargers across its reservation, largely in North Dakota, as part of a regional effort to create an intertribal charging network. (New York Times)

FOSSIL FUELS

• NorthWestern Energy considers building a 131.2 MW natural gas plant near an existing facility in South Dakota to meet rising electricity demand. (South Dakota Searchlight)

WIND

• A northwestern Iowa county considers settling a lawsuit brought by Invenergy over restrictive wind farm setback requirements. (KIWA)

NEW FROM CANARY

• Batteries are helping Chattanooga keep the lights on — and bills low — Julian Spector

• Data-center power forecasts climb to unreachable heights — Jeff St. John

• Chinese and European industry groups to decide on green-steel standards — Alexander C. Kaufman