St. Louis pipeline dispute signals broader debate over natural gas

OIL & GAS: The dispute over the future of a St. Louis-area natural gas pipeline signals a broader debate over natural gas’ role as clean energy advocates push more energy efficiency, electrification and renewables. (Energy News Network)

ALSO:
• Missouri regulators order Spire to issue another letter to St. Louis residents that explains the area’s natural gas availability ​“as accurately as possible.” (KMOV)
• Black Hills Energy forecasts that natural gas prices for home heating could increase an average of 58% this winter. (Lincoln Journal-Star)

PIPELINES:
• Environmental advocates say Enbridge and Republicans are creating an ​“echo chamber” with claims that link Democratic officials who oppose the Line 5 pipeline with high energy costs. (Michigan Advance)
• A proposed 2,000-mile pipeline network to transport carbon emissions captured from dozens of Midwest ethanol plants raises concerns among critics over long-term dependency on fossil fuels. (Bloomberg Law)

CLEAN ENERGY: Wisconsin regulators approve settlement agreements between advocacy groups and utilities Alliant Energy and Xcel Energy over increasing rates to pay for clean energy investments. (Wisconsin Public Radio)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Ford cancels plans to develop an electric vehicle with Rivian, which experts say shows Ford’s confidence in its own models. (Detroit News)

UTILITIES: A federal judge cancels a previous order that would have allowed FirstEnergy customers to sue the utility as a class over claims about being wrongly charged for power plant subsidies. (Reuters)

NUCLEAR: The $694 million that Illinois lawmakers approved to keep multiple Exelon nuclear plans open followed negotiations that were a microcosm of the debate over using nuclear plants to keep emissions down. (CNBC)

CLIMATE: U.S. Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota wants to ensure President Biden’s Build Back Better plan includes the ​“strongest possible climate provisions and what’s important is that we achieve our goals.” (Minnesota Reformer)

SOLAR:
• A four year, $10 million grant will support University of Illinois researchers studying the potential of planting crops alongside solar installations. (Herald-Whig)
• Construction is progressing on an 8.5 MW community solar project in northeastern Nebraska. (KCAU)

BIOFUELS:
• Environmental regulators faced confusion and legal barriers while investigating toxic material that was produced at a former Nebraska ethanol plant, emails show. (Lincoln Journal Star)
• Researchers are working to determine the extent of the harm that the plant’s pesticide contamination had on local bee populations. (Lincoln Journal Star)

COMMENTARY: Ohio lawmakers should create a permanent oil and gas severance tax fund to spread the prosperity from development among more residents, an official with a nonprofit policy advocacy group writes. (Ohio Capital Journal)