Midwest

Nuclear

America’s first nuclear plant restart may be near the finish line

After a few missed targets, Holtec says the remaining tasks to bring Michigan’s Palisades plant back online are equal to restoring service after a routine outage.

By Alexander C. Kaufman .

10 July 2026

Overhead shot of nuclear plant on the western shore of a lake — The Palisades nuclear power plant on the shore of Lake Michigan. The reactor was shut down for decommissioning in May 2022, but Holtec plans to restart the facility. (Jim West/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Solar

Ohio Power Siting Board asks court to punt on high-stakes solar case

The Kingwood Solar case could provide clean energy developers in Ohio with much-needed clarity about the regulatory environment — if the court doesn’t dismiss it.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski . 9 July 2026
Solar

In Ohio, solar is no big threat to farmland

Fears over farmland loss have fueled arguments against renewables in Ohio — but golf courses and suburban sprawl take up far more acreage than solar does.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski . 2 July 2026
Green steel

A year after US Steel was sold, communities push for clean investment

Northwest Indiana residents say Nippon Steel’s acquisition of U.S. Steel could bring jobs and growth. But they’re still waiting on Nippon to deliver.

By Maria Gallucci . 29 June 2026
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
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