Midwest

Batteries

Base Power brings cheap batteries to residents in power-starved PJM

The unicorn startup launched its first move outside its home state of Texas, pitching low-cost energy and backup power in northern Illinois.

By Julian Spector .

24 June 2026

Cursive sign of the word "Chicago" with the city skyline in the distance — Battery startup Base Power is giving customers in Chicagoland more options for cheap and resilient power. (Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Wind

New Ohio bill could hamstring big wind and solar farms even more

Despite bipartisan agreement that Ohio needs more electricity generation, the GOP-led Senate passed a bill that would boost natural gas and ding renewables.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski . 23 June 2026
Wind

Minnesota now has a wind-powered green ammonia plant

A yearslong project has finally started producing ammonia with wind power. If the process can be scaled up, it could help ensure farmers have cheap, reliable fertilizer.

By Brian Martucci, MinnPost . 12 June 2026
Clean energy

Ohio has blocked a lot of wind and solar. Its residents pay the price.

The clean energy projects thwarted by state lawmakers could have gone a long way toward meeting spiking energy demand, lowering bills, and eliminating pollution.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski . 5 June 2026
Fossil fuels

Indiana coal plant that Trump forced to stay open is not operating

The DOE says the Schahfer plant is key for reliability, but repairs mean it’ll be offline for much of 2026. The grid is set to be just fine without it this summer.

By Kari Lydersen . 1 June 2026
Solar

In new attack on solar, lawmakers spread myths about potato farms

Misinformation about renewable energy fuels local pushback to proposed energy installations and could threaten farmers’ livelihoods.

By Austyn Gaffney . 1 June 2026
EV charging

Installing EV charging at big-box stores is not as easy as it looks

A developer building chargers at home-improvement stores discusses the promise — and pitfalls — of siting EV infrastructure in major retailers' parking lots.

By Kari Lydersen . 28 May 2026
Energy storage

The hidden innovation behind Antora’s massive new heat battery

The startup is turning on a 200-battery project in South Dakota — and pioneering an electric utility rate that could help boost thermal energy storage more widely.

By Maria Gallucci . 27 May 2026
Solar

This AI tool helps community solar developers connect to the grid sooner

Startup MeanderX maps bottlenecks on distribution lines in Illinois and seven other states, so projects can avoid lengthy delays.

By Kari Lydersen . 26 May 2026
Fossil fuels

Trump admin defends its coal must-run orders in court

The administration told judges that it alone has the power to decide whether an energy emergency exists, a claim that a Michigan official called “unprecedented.”

By Marianne Lavelle . 19 May 2026
Utilities

Ohio utilities report subpar grid reliability as they seek a lower bar

FirstEnergy and Duke say factors like worsening extreme weather led to missed 2025 targets. The state will soon decide whether to accept more and longer outages.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski . 18 May 2026