These conservatives want clean energy

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.

CLEAN ENERGY

• A large gathering of conservative clean energy advocates in Cleveland urged attendees to ramp up their grassroots advocacy for projects to combat misinformation as the Trump administration takes a singular approach to energy in favor of fossil fuels. (Canary Media)

SOLAR

• Ameren plans to build its largest solar project to date with a 250 MW installation next to its Missouri nuclear plant to help meet demand from data centers. (St. Louis Public Radio)

• Two Evergy solar projects that received regulatory approval in Kansas and Missouri will proceed ahead of cut-offs for federal clean energy tax credits, utility officials say. (Kansas Reflector)

• Minnesota regulators approve a developer’s plan for a 150 MW solar project with 50 MW of storage that aims to come online by the end of 2028. (Solar Power World)

• Officials in Green Bay, Wisconsin, highlight the success of a local solar group-buying program as the deadline to apply and secure federal tax incentives approaches. (WFRV)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• Ford reports EV sales were up 19.3% in August from the same month last year as federal incentives wane, while GM reports an all-time monthly EV sales record in August. (CNBC)

OVERSIGHT

• Indiana Gov. Mike Braun appoints a new head of the state’s consumer advocacy office, while the state’s utility regulatory board will soon have three vacancies, giving Braun a chance to reshape utility oversight. (Mirror Indy)

CARBON CAPTURE

• The Michigan Senate approves bipartisan legislation to allow the state to permit carbon capture projects, which drew opposition from some Democrats and environmental groups who say the process is too risky. (Michigan Public)

DATA CENTERS

• A majority of members on the 25-person Indianapolis City-County Council oppose Google’s plan for a data center, as some Democrats cite the project’s potential to jeopardize local climate goals. (Mirror Indy)

• Ohio regulators reject tech companies’ request to overturn new AEP rate structures that seek to protect residential ratepayers from rising costs from data centers. (WCMH)

GRID

• The Ohio Republican backing legislation for a voluntary demand response program that limits participants’ electricity use during high demand periods says utilities should get another tool to manage their power distribution. (Ohio Capital Journal)

UTILITIES

• The Sierra Club leads a small protest at Minnesota Power’s Duluth headquarters as state regulators weigh the utility’s parent company’s proposed sale to a private equity firm. (Duluth News Tribune)

COAL

• Iowa regulators are near a decision on whether to grant an amended wastewater permit for an Alliant Energy-owned coal plant that has been challenged by environmental groups claiming it would pose public safety risks. (Iowa Public Radio)

• The permanent closure of a central Illinois coal mine caught some local officials off guard who said they weren’t made aware of the initial announcement late last year. (WCIA)

NUCLEAR

• North Dakota lawmakers begin work on a new committee exploring the potential for nuclear power in the state as energy demand is expected to ramp up. (Prairie Public Radio)

COMMENTARY

• Trump administration orders to keep one of Michigan’s largest greenhouse gas-emitting coal plants online indefinitely will cost ratepayers tens of millions of dollars, a clean energy advocate writes. (Detroit News)