Tariffs add uncertainty to the EV transition

This roundup of energy news headlines comes from our Midwest Energy News newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each morning.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• Tariffs will likely hike up the cost of U.S. EVs, adding more challenges as they try to compete with gas-powered cars on cost and as automakers scale back EV-production plans. (Associated Press)

GRID

• Federal sites in Illinois are among 16 locations the Department of Energy has identified as potential host sites for co-locating large data centers with energy sources. (Utility Dive)

• Grid operator Southwest Power Pool will need to turn to demand response to help meet rising near-term power demand as excess capacity supplies dwindle, its CEO says. (Utility Dive)

• We Energies seeks to be the first Wisconsin utility to craft specific rate structures for data center-scale customers as several projects are planned in the utility’s service territory. (Wisconsin Public Radio)

STORAGE

• Grid batteries tied to many solar projects are particularly exposed to President Trump’s tariffs as they face a roughly 65% tariff that could rise to 80% next year, experts say. (E&E News)

CLEAN ENERGY

• Key questions remain about farmers’ and rural business owners’ ability to regain access to promised federal clean energy grant funding, particularly after a USDA request to revise their applications to align with the Trump administration’s energy priorities. (Grist)

UTILITIES

• MidAmerican Energy asks Iowa regulators for permission to add a capital investment charge to residential gas customers’ bills to pay for infrastructure upgrades. (Radio Iowa)

• Both of Michigan’s two large investor-owned utilities will go back to state regulators seeking large rate increases for reliability projects within weeks of making similar requests. (MLive)

• AES Ohio’s wholesale power price auction has been delayed to allow participating bidders to get more load data from the utility and as prices for two other large Ohio utilities increase. (Dayton Daily News)

WIND

• MidAmerican Energy will install an aircraft detection lighting system at an Iowa wind project that will only flash red lights when they’re needed to alert aircraft in the vicinity of turbines. (Hometown Current)