U.S. EPA raises climate concerns over Wisconsin gas plant

OIL & GAS:
• The U.S. EPA raises concerns over the climate impact of a proposed northern Wisconsin natural gas plant, adding that utilities pursuing the project should have to reduce emissions to receive federal funding. (Wisconsin State Journal)
• State regulators approve plans for a 1,100 MW natural gas plant near Springfield, Illinois, that critics say runs counter to the state’s clean energy targets. (State Journal-Register)

NUCLEAR: Living near a Minnesota nuclear plant has caused long-term, low-grade daily stress for tribal citizens who have set out to develop their own net-zero energy plan for the next decade. (MPR News)

OHIO:
• Documents related to a criminal investigation of FirstEnergy’s lobbying practices show the utility in 2019 cut off power for nonpayment to a customer relying on supplemental oxygen before officials scrambled to have it restored. (Ohio Capital Journal)
• Similar documents show the steps by former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairman Sam Randazzo to stop a federal regulatory decision that would have jeopardized subsidies for FirstEnergy nuclear plants. (Cleveland.com)

COAL: Researchers discover a way to extract iron oxide from southeastern Ohio streams tainted by acid mine drainage from coal mining and convert it into artist-grade paint. (CNN)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Access and equity are two key priorities for Illinois’ first electric vehicle coordinator, who will guide plans for siting charging stations and developing a rebate program. (WGLT)
• Climate activists call on the Chicago Transit Authority to cancel plans to buy 500 diesel-powered buses and instead aim for a fully electric fleet by 2040. (Chicago Sun-Times)
• A consultant details Iowa’s plans for spending more than $50 million in federal funding over the next five years for electric vehicle charging station corridors. (KMALand)

PIPELINES: Northeastern Iowa county officials seek to formally oppose plans for a carbon pipeline, arguing the project is not in the public interest. (The Courier)

RENEWABLES:
• Former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad is working on behalf of an organization that promotes large-scale renewable energy projects to local officials. (KCRG)
• A group of Missouri conservation organizations create a planning guide to help renewable energy projects reduce their impacts on wildlife. (Kansas City Beacon)

CLIMATE: Two separate analyses find that a proposed U.S. Senate climate legislation deal could help the U.S. meet a goal to cut carbon emissions in half by 2030. (E&E News)

COMMENTARY: A Wisconsin researcher and a tribal leader who served on Gov. Tony Evers’ environmental justice task force say a new state chief resilience officer will help protect businesses and families from extreme weather-related disasters. (Wisconsin Examiner)