Wisconsin startup brings new approach to fusion

Editor’s note: Today’s emailed digest incorrectly implied that Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker had concerns about a bill that would make data centers produce all of their own power from renewables. A corrected version appears below.

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CLEAN TECH

• A Wisconsin company that’s among dozens of startups trying to generate more power than is used to create a fusion reaction has been able to scale up by generating revenue from selling neutrons to other sectors. (Canary Media)

CARBON CAPTURE

• South Dakota lawmakers pass a bill prohibiting carbon pipeline companies from acquiring land by eminent domain, sending the measure to Gov. Larry Rhoden, who has not said whether he will sign it. (South Dakota Searchlight)

• Iowa lawmakers hold hearings on a proposal to limit the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines and transmission lines, after three years of inaction as Senate Republicans refused to consider the issue. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)

GRID

• Ontario, Canada’s premier warns leaders in Michigan and Minnesota that the province could halt or impose a 25% surcharge on electricity exports into the U.S. in retaliation to the Trump administration’s tariffs on the country. (Detroit Free Press)

• Energy is a potentially powerful trade bargaining chip for Canada, as climate plans in Minnesota and Michigan rely in part on Canadian hydroelectric power. (Grist)

• Indiana lawmakers advance a bill that would require utilities to consider advanced transmission technologies in their long-term plans that would make power lines more efficient and less congested. (WFYI)

RENEWABLES

• Illinois House Democrats and clean energy advocates support a bill that would require that data centers produce all of their own power from renewables. (WAND)

NUCLEAR

• Michigan lawmakers consider bills to incentivize nuclear power, including tax credits for designing and developing small modular reactors as well as scholarships for training a nuclear workforce. (Bridge)

• During testimony on the bills, a DTE Energy executive said the Detroit-based utility would be open to working with legislators on potential financial support to build a new nuclear plant in southeastern Michigan. (MLive)

WIND

• Ameren is still in the process of repairing and reactivating turbines at a Missouri wind project after three turbines collapsed last year during extreme weather. (KTVO)

UTILITIES

• Ohio lawmakers are reconsidering legislation that would make broad changes to the utility ratemaking process after amendments to draw more support from big utilities generated opposition from previous supporters. (Ohio Capital Journal)

• Voters outside Des Moines, Iowa, overwhelmingly approve plans to sell the city-owned gas utility to MidAmerican Energy for $19 million. (Des Moines Register)