Discover the Latest News and Initiatives for a Sustainable Future

EMISSIONS: The EPA proposes new rules that would charge oil and gas producers methane emissions fees starting at $900 per metric ton and rising to $1,500 by 2026. (The Hill)

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ALSO: Advocates celebrate proposed U.S. EPA restrictions on pollution from waste-to-energy facilities but say they don’t go far enough to combat environmental justice concerns. (Inside Climate News)

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CLIMATE:

• John Kerry plans to step down as President Biden’s climate envoy in the coming months and join Biden’s re-election campaign. (Axios)
• Electric buses, solar panels, and HVAC improvements are helping schools around the country cut their climate impacts. (The Hill)
• YouTube creators that have long pushed climate skepticism now seek to discredit renewable energy and other climate solutions. (CNBC)

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CLEAN ENERGY:

• Renewable energy capacity is expanding worldwide at its fastest pace in decades, but total capacity still needs to triple by 2030 to meet climate goals, the International Energy Agency says. (Utility Dive)
• A growing number of states are moving renewable energy siting authority from local governments to state regulators in an effort to get more projects built. (Associated Press)
• A remote Colorado town looks to install a clean energy-powered microgrid to provide backup during avalanche and snow-caused power outages. (Colorado Sun)

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GAS:

• Testing reveals gas stoves release hazardous levels of pollutants that can be harmful to vulnerable populations, but protective measures can reduce those risks. (Washington Post)
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory modeling suggests U.S. power sector emissions will drastically fall through 2050, even though gas-fired capacity will continue to grow. (Utility Dive)

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PIPELINES:

• Activists combat the long-delayed, over-budget Mountain Valley Pipeline as developers forecast it’ll be completed by the end of March. (Grist, Roanoke Times)
• GOP presidential candidates say they support the ethanol industry but largely avoided staking out clear positions on carbon pipelines ahead of Monday’s Iowa caucuses. (E&E News)

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SOLAR: Xcel Energy’s plan to replace one of the country’s largest coal plants with solar on the same site is meant to minimize economic losses for the local Minnesota community. (Inside Climate News)

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CLEANTECH: Massachusetts’ booming clean tech economy is expanding, and politicians, including the state’s governor, are looking at how to keep that growth in state. (Boston Globe)

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WIND: A northern California port commits to using electricity instead of diesel to power a planned terminal that would serve the offshore wind industry. (JPR)

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CARBON CAPTURE: California’s petroleum companies look to survive the transition from fossil fuels by establishing a carbon management industry that stores captured greenhouse gasses in depleted oil fields. (Los Angeles Times)

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WORKFORCE: Renewable energy is boosting West Virginia with a series of new factories and projects, but the state is hampered by a low labor force participation rate and lack of policies supporting smaller community-scale projects. (Mountain State Spotlight)

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GRID:

• Texas’ electric grid holds firm despite frigid temperatures and new winter peak demand records in three of the last four days, but experts say energy efficiency improvements would boost its performance and help residents suffering from the cold. (Utility Dive, KTRK)
• The Tennessee Valley Authority sees a new winter peak demand record but manages it without blackouts, which it credits to conservation efforts. (WRCB, WJHL)
• Thousands of North Carolina residents still don’t have power after an outage due to cold weather and an equipment failure at a substation. (WRAL)

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STORAGE: A Louisiana parish board votes to approve tax incentives for a chemical company to build a $491 million factory to make materials for electric vehicle batteries. (NOLA.com)

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EFFICIENCY: Duke Energy introduces a North Carolina program to incentivize homeowners with high energy usage to add energy-efficient HVAC systems, insulation and other measures. (Raleigh News & Observer)

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SOLAR:

• A construction company that built solar farms in Alabama, Idaho and Illinois agrees to pay $2.3 million to settle claims it violated clean water rules beginning in 2016. (Associated Press)
• A Virginia school district announces it will install 3,667 solar panels at six schools and an administrative building, while a neighboring school board considers a power purchase agreement for solar at a high school. (Roanoke Rambler)

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CLIMATE:

• Tennessee officials say 14 people have died from extreme cold in the state. (WSMV)
• A Virginia nonprofit agrees to tear down its brand new $9 million headquarters when rising tides reach a certain level, likely decades from now. (Virginia Mercury)
• Louisville, Lexington and Bowling Green — Kentucky’s three biggest cities — ask for public feedback as they develop climate plans in an attempt to secure federal funding for reducing emissions. (Kentucky Lantern)

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PIPELINES: A North Carolina county board delays approval of a permit for Dominion Energy to use a property as an operational base to build a pipeline after residents raise concerns about safety and pollution. (Salisbury Post)

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COAL: A federal judge orders a helicopter owned by West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s coal companies to be prepared for sale to satisfy a debt to a company for royalty payments for mined coal. (WV Metro News)

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OIL & GAS: Wind carries a natural gas odor from an oil field into Austin, Texas, fueling concerns from residents. (KVUE)

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UTILITIES:

• Virginia electric cooperatives complain about state legislation that would mandate them to deploy broadband on utility poles before pandemic funding expires. (Cardinal News)
• A Virginia lawmaker introduces legislation to block Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power from billing customers for their political activities. (Energy and Policy Institute)
• West Virginia regulators approve a special contract for Appalachian Power to provide reduced rates, electric power and transmission lines for a steel company. (WVVA)

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COMMENTARY:

• A clean energy organizer in Texas discusses efforts to assist families in dealing with a public utility that billed customers for a power plant that was never built. (Sierra)
• Democratic and Republican Virginia lawmakers explain their bipartisan legislation to ensure the state is taking full advantage of federal funding for clean energy infrastructure. (Cardinal News)

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POWER PLANTS: South Dakota regulators ask Xcel Energy to reconsider closing two large Minnesota coal plants in the coming years based on concerns over whether there will be adequate power on the grid. (Utility Dive)

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ALSO: Dozens of residents, local officials and business leaders are divided over Minnesota Power’s plans for a 550 MW natural gas plant in northern Wisconsin near Lake Superior. (Northern News Now)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• Analysts say waning federal subsidies, global competition and uncertainty with this year’s presidential election could slow Michigan-based automakers’ electric vehicle sales. (Bridge)
• The Wisconsin Senate passes a pair of bills that would make it easier for private businesses to host charging stations and allow the state to access nearly $80 million in federal construction aid. (Associated Press)
• Amid reports of electric vehicle drivers struggling to charge in frigid temperatures, experts say a little planning can ensure typical travel. (Associated Press)
• Detroit Public Schools will use nearly $6 million in federal funding to replace 15 diesel-powered buses with models powered by electricity, compressed natural gas or propane. (Model D Media)

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BIOGAS: Michigan environmental groups raise concerns over legislation that would define biogas from animal waste at industrial farms as clean energy. (Metro Times)

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NUCLEAR: Despite growing public and governmental support for nuclear power, industry experts say it’s unclear when the next U.S. reactor may come online. (Canary Media)

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EFFICIENCY: An Illinois school district saved $4.3 million in energy costs by investing in energy efficiency measures at multiple schools. (WGLT)

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SOLAR:

• Alliant Energy completes a 50 MW solar project that’s part of the utility’s broader plan to complete 12 projects across Wisconsin. (Daily Reporter)
• A southern Illinois city selects a developer’s plan to build a solar project on a former landfill that will provide $5.5 million in lease payments over 25 years. (WJBD)
• A construction company that built solar farms across the U.S. will pay $2.3 million to settle claims that it violated federal and state water regulations in Illinois and two other states. (Associated Press)

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CLIMATE: Indiana youth climate activists call on state lawmakers to pass bills supporting community solar, creating incentives for wetland protections and requiring permits for large water withdrawals. (Indiana Public Radio)

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RENEWABLES: A western Nebraska county board approves a six-month moratorium on utility-scale wind and solar projects as it considers local regulations. (Nebraska Rural Radio)

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COMMENTARY:

• An Ohio environmental advocate says state officials’ decision to allow hydraulic fracturing under state parks and public land is shortsighted and ignores global climate goals. (Columbus Dispatch)
• A Kansas-based writer backs plans for what would be the state’s largest solar project because it conforms to nearby land uses and would be located near existing power infrastructure. (Kansas Reflector)

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SOLAR: The U.S. military will install rooftop solar panels on the Pentagon as part of a $250 million package announced Wednesday to reduce emissions from federal buildings. (Associated Press)

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ALSO:

• Solar power is poised for record growth this year, though domestic manufacturing incentives, interconnection delays, net metering changes and interest rates could all slow deployment. (E&E News)
• The Biden administration adds 22 million acres in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming to the original six states in its federal land solar development plan. (The Hill)
• Federal officials grant Maine’s Acadia National Park $1 million to install rooftop solar and a dozen electric vehicle charging stations at a new headquarters in Bar Harbor. (Maine Public Radio)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• Amid reports of drivers struggling to charge electric vehicles in frigid temperatures, experts say a little planning can ensure typical travel. (Associated Press)
• Analysts say waning federal subsidies, global competition and uncertainty with this year’s presidential election could slow Michigan-based automakers’ electric vehicle sales. (Bridge)
• While few medium- and heavy-duty truck drivers are piloting electric models, many who do love their smooth handling and a lack of noise and fumes. (Washington Post)
• While electric vehicle sales growth has slowed, hybrid vehicle sales remain strong, with experts suggesting price barriers and discomfort are keeping people from adopting a fully electric car. (New York Times)

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NUCLEAR:

• Despite growing public and governmental support for nuclear power, industry experts say it’s unclear when the next U.S. reactor may come online. (Canary Media)
• The Biden administration approves spending $1.1 billion to help keep the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant in California running beyond its previously scheduled 2025 retirement date. (Associated Press)

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POLITICS:

• Democratic strategists worry young voters aren’t excited to turn out and re-elect President Biden, but say his climate policy could persuade them. (E&E News)
• John Kerry’s coming departure as U.S. climate envoy opens the way for another high-profile Democrat or a climate policy expert to take his place. (Politico)

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WORKFORCE: Renewable energy is boosting West Virginia with a series of new factories and projects, but the state is hampered by a low labor force participation rate and lack of policies supporting smaller community-scale projects. (Mountain State Spotlight)

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GRID:

• Texas’ electric grid has held firm despite frigid temperatures and new winter peak demand records, but experts say energy efficiency improvements would boost its performance and help residents suffering from the cold. (Utility Dive, KTRK)
• South Dakota regulators ask Xcel Energy to reconsider closing two large Minnesota coal plants in the coming years based on concerns over whether there will be adequate power on the grid. (Utility Dive)

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SOLAR: The Biden administration adds Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming to the original six states in its federal land solar development plan, saying the additional 22 million acres are needed to meet the nation’s clean energy needs. (The Hill)

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ALSO:

• The federal Bureau of Land Management seeks public input on a proposed 300 MW solar installation and associated transmission line in northern Nevada. (news release)
• A developer agrees to pay $2.3 million to settle claims it violated federal water laws at solar projects in Idaho and other states. (Associated Press)
• New Mexico residents urge county officials to further scrutinize a proposed solar-plus-storage project near Santa Fe before issuing a permit. (Santa Fe New Mexican)

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CLEAN ENERGY: Fierce debate breaks out over proposed Alaska legislation that would require utilities to generate 80% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2040. (Northern Journal)

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OIL & GAS:

• Colorado regulators adopt rules requiring oil and gas operators to disclose data on leaks and pipeline locations and increasing fines for violations. (Colorado Sun)
• The U.S. Forest Service withdraws its permit for a controversial proposed rail line that would link a Utah oil field with national lines and Gulf Coast refineries. (CPR)  
• Wyoming’s oil and gas industry pushes back on plans to designate a migration corridor for an imperiled pronghorn herd. (WyoFile)
• New Mexico lawmakers propose a flurry of bills that would tighten regulations on the oil and gas industry. (Capital & Main)
• Alaska officials predict the Willow and Pikka drilling projects will help increase North Slope oil production by more than 30% over the next decade. (Alaska Public Media)

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NUCLEAR: The Biden administration approves spending $1.1 billion to help keep the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant in California running beyond its previously scheduled 2025 retirement date. (Associated Press)

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UTILITIES:

• A Northwest utility says it weathered the unexpected shutdown of its primary natural gas pipeline during a recent cold snap thanks to customers voluntarily reducing demand. (Spokesman-Review)
• Arizona utilities seek up to 625 MW of new renewable power capacity and 825 MW of “firm capacity,” including battery energy storage. (PV Tech)

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CLIMATE: Washington voters will have a chance this November to vote on a ballot measure to repeal or uphold the state’s two-year-old landmark climate policy. (Spokesman-Review)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES: A California air pollution control district receives $56 million in federal funds to develop an electric freight-truck charging network. (Turlock Journal)

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COAL: A Colorado private equity firm throws a financial lifeline to a struggling Wyoming coal processing company that claims a cleaner production method. (Cowboy State Daily)

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CLEAN ENERGY: Virginia lawmakers consider legislation to make way for more clean energy produced by customers and third-party wind and solar to increase market competition and lower rates as the state aims to meet clean energy goals. (Energy News Network)

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ALSO: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp tells leaders at the World Economic Forum that his state needs more clean energy to attract economic projects such as the electric vehicle and battery factories that have settled there. (Associated Press)

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CLIMATE:

• At least 14 people have died in Tennessee from a deadly winter storm that’s dumped snow and ice and sent temperatures plunging, with forecasts for more storm weather today. (Associated Press)
• West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice asks state lawmakers to move $50 million to a flood resiliency fund that’s sat empty since it was created last year. (Mountain State Spotlight)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• Mississippi lawmakers approve a $365 million incentive package to attract a 2,000-job electric vehicle battery factory. (Associated Press)
• Georgia regulators request funding to inspect electric vehicle chargers after lawmakers added the task to the agency’s list of duties last year. (WABE)
• A North Carolina lithium company puts a processing plant and research center on hold as it cuts costs amid slumps in the electric vehicle and lithium markets. (WFAE)

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OIL & GAS:

• Dominion Energy plans to build out onsite natural gas storage at multiple sites in North Carolina and Virginia, and Duke Energy considers following suit as critics worry about costs and emissions. (States Newsroom)
• El Paso residents in a low-income, largely Hispanic neighborhood see Marathon Petroleum’s filing for a renewal of its permit for an oil refinery as a chance to press the company for more transparency and accountability. (Inside Climate News)
• An employee injured in an explosion at a Texas hotel alleges that workers informed management about a natural gas odor, but it failed to evacuate the building. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

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GRID: Experts say Texas’ renewable-energy building spree has strengthened the state power grid so that it’s better prepared to handle extreme winter weather. (Washington Post)

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PIPELINES: Mountain Valley Pipeline developers adjust plans for its proposed Southgate spur into North Carolina, shortening the extension by more than half but widening its diameter and capacity. (Inside Climate News)

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COAL:

• A professor discusses how the politics and culture of coal in Appalachia have shifted over the last 20 years. (Daily Yonder)
• Documents show that two-thirds of Tennessee’s coal mining permits are in bond forfeiture because companies don’t have money to reclaim them. (WPLN)

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HYDROGEN: Federal officials award a $70 million grant to build hydrogen fueling stations at Texas truck stops. (Texas Standard)

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OVERSIGHT: Georgia regulators seem skeptical of Georgia Power’s request to buy more energy and build new batteries and gas turbines to meet the news of a surging state economy they say has produced 40 years’ worth of growth in just two years. (WABE)

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COMMENTARY:

• A push by Florida officials to allow up to 8,000 more residents to move to the Florida Keys will cause all sorts of problems as climate change brings higher storm surges and stronger hurricanes, writes a journalist. (Florida Phoenix)
• A clean energy group applauds North Carolina’s approval of a pilot program to allow Duke Energy customers to save money on solar and battery storage installations when they’re installed together. (Southern Environmental Law Center)

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OIL & GAS: California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposes ending some longstanding tax breaks for oil and gas producers, saying it would save the state up to $22 million annually. (Politico)

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ALSO:

• Washington state lawmakers consider legislation that would create a petroleum market monitoring agency to guard against gasoline price gouging. (KIRO)
• Wyoming’s oil and gas industry claims it could lose $900 million and 3,000 jobs under a proposed federal land management plan, even though it would not cancel existing leases or affect current drilling areas. (Cowboy State Daily)

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SOLAR:

• New Mexico’s Supreme Court rejects utilities’ bid to delay implementation of the state’s new community solar program while judges consider a challenge to the rules. (Albuquerque Journal)
• Commercial operations begin at an 875 MW solar-plus-storage facility partly located on a U.S. Air Force base in southern California. (news release)
• The federal Bureau of Land Management advances four proposed solar installations in Nevada with a combined total of 1,500 MW combined generating capacity and 2,000 MW battery storage. (Nevada Current)
• Hawaii advocates say recent changes to rooftop solar-plus-storage incentives threaten a program that kept the lights on following a coal plant closure. (Canary Media)
• A Hawaii nonprofit proposes an 88-home off-grid solar-plus-storage powered development to house people displaced by last year’s Maui wildfires. (Solar Power World)
• A Washington state island community begins installing a community solar-powered microgrid. (Journal of the San Juan Islands)

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WIND: Washington state regulators are slated next week to consider a proposed 600-1,100 MW wind power facility in the southern part of the state. (Center Square)

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STORAGE: A company breaks ground on a 312-battery energy storage system in Phoenix, Arizona. (Arizona Republic)

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OVERSIGHT: A Utah lawmaker introduces legislation aimed at allowing the state not to comply with federal regulations it doesn’t like, giving the U.S. EPA’s ozone transport rule as an example. (Utah News Dispatch)

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NUCLEAR: A Washington state lawmaker introduces legislation that would provide tax incentives for nuclear power equipment manufacturers. (Center Square)

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UTILITIES: Colorado natural gas utilities plan to rely on energy efficiency, demand response and biofuels to achieve state-mandated greenhouse gas emissions reductions. (S&P Global)

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HYDROPOWER: U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, a Washington state Republican, looks to use a federal infrastructure bill to block a proposal to breach four Northwest hydropower dams. (Idaho Statesman)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• An Arizona city plans to use $11.8 million in federal funding to increase its public electric vehicle chargers by 40%. (Arizona Republic)
• Utah receives $3.3 million in federal funding to repair or replace about 77 electric vehicle chargers. (KSL)

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TRANSITION: An activated carbon air and water purification manufacturer establishes a facility in northwest New Mexico as part of an effort to diversify the region’s fossil fuel-reliant economy. (Daily Times)

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ELECTRIFICATION: Palo Alto, California, stops enforcing a ban on natural gas hookups in new construction following a court order axing Berkeley’s similar rule. (Daily Post)

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COAL: Montana utility observers ask why the Colstrip coal plant remained offline during a recent cold snap even as utilities had to import power to keep the lights on. (Missoula Current)

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GRID: Another severe winter storm pounds utility equipment in the Northwest, leaving more than 40,000 customers without power in Portland, Oregon. (KGW)

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GAS: In Maine, a proposal to curtail future gas line expansions has drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers, gas utilities and trade groups over consumer affordability and investment concerns. (Portland Press Herald)

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ALSO: New York lawmakers want to end a law that requires utilities to connect new homes, businesses and industrial facilities to gas lines if they’re within 100 feet of an existing line. (Newsday)

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BUILDINGS: In New York City, the final rules for building emission reduction policies at the state and local level continue to allow for wood-burning fireplaces and stoves, despite their emissions intensity. (Gothamist)

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GRID: Grid tech startup NineDot Energy has raised $225 million in equity capital to develop community-scale battery storage projects in small, difficult to develop spaces in New York City. (Canary Media)

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CLEAN ENERGY: A year after his swearing-in, Pennsylvania’s governor has yet to announce how the state will achieve his campaign goal of having 30% of all energy sales stem from renewable sources by 2030. (Capital & Main)

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REGULATION:

• Vermont’s governor appoints Ed McNamara — a former lawyer for the state’s natural resources agency — to chair the Vermont Public Utility Commission. (VT Digger)
• Pennsylvania regulators decide to open up a public comment period for ratepayers on a proposed $17 million settlement with PPL Electric over widespread overbilling in 2023. (Lancaster Online)

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NUCLEAR: The developers of a proposed data center want to build on the same site as the Millstone nuclear power plant in Connecticut and use electricity from it, but some critics have environmental, safety and flooding concerns. (CT Mirror)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES: A University of Delaware research team is working on new standards to help vehicle manufacturers adopt Tesla’s charging standard and make it easier to integrate vehicle-to-grid technologies. (Delaware News Journal)

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SOLAR:

• After five years of planning, a Pennsylvania manufacturer installs enough rooftop solar to power 88 homes, tapping into a federal agriculture grant. (New Castle News)
• A Massachusetts town identifies potential locations for solar installations, but struggles to attract project bids at one site and runs into structural issues at another. (Daily Hampshire Gazette)

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CLIMATE:

• A flood-prone New Jersey borough can no longer tap into funds to elevate their homes; instead, the state is telling them to either apply for a buy-out and retreat or run the risk of further flooding. (NJ Advance Media)
• New York could soon become the latest state to require climate-related lessons within the school curriculum. (New York Times)

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OFFSHORE WIND:

• A New Jersey Republican representative claims credit for the cancellation of two Ørsted offshore wind farms at an unsanctioned public “hearing,” telling observers to “keep up the fight” and “sue these people.” (E&E News)
• Dewey Beach, Delaware, pushes off a vote on whether to join a benefits program offered by US Wind, acceptance of which would mean no further objections to the developer’s nearby offshore wind project. (WRDE)

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GRID: Texas’ power grid broke records for winter demand but withstood last week’s polar vortex, while a largely partisan debate continues over whether added renewables or natural gas facilities deserve more credit for avoiding outages. (Utility Dive, Inside Climate News)

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ALSO:

• The Tennessee Valley Authority sets a weekend record for peak winter power demand during frigid weather over the weekend, but uses energy conservation notices to avoid major outages. (WKRN, WPLN)
• More than 12,000 Duke Energy customers in North Carolina who lost power in frigid conditions after crews damaged a substation may file a complaint about the incident with state officials, but will have to file in court to pursue monetary damages. (NC Newsline)

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POLITICS:

• Virginia Democrats introduce budget amendments to restore the state’s membership in a regional carbon market despite Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s opposition. (Virginia Mercury)
• A West Virginia bill to create an economic development commission along the King Coal Highway is nearly derailed by a line committing to “a net-zero carbon footprint for all endeavors” before the line was removed. (Mountain State Spotlight)

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PIPELINES:

• Federal regulators approve a 32-mile pipeline in Tennessee to supply new natural gas units the Tennessee Valley Authority plans to build to replace a  2,470-MW coal-fired power plant set for retirement. (Utility Dive)
• Congressional Democrats call on federal regulators to require a new application for a proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline spur into North Carolina after the company reworked the project to shorten its length but increase capacity. (Augusta Free Press)

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LITHIUM: ExxonMobil and other oil majors are beginning to return to Arkansas and other rural areas with fossil fuel histories in pursuit of lithium to supply the clean energy transition. (Grist)

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SOLAR:

• Appalachian Power asks Virginia regulators to approve its plan to purchase power from 150 MW, 80 MW and 5 MW solar plants under construction. (Cardinal News)
• An Arkansas transportation company prepares to begin construction on a solar array to offset 80% of the energy use at its headquarters. (Talk Business & Politics)
• A Virginia county’s comprehensive zoning ordinance update includes adjustments for solar, battery storage and data centers. (Danville Register & Bee)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Electric vehicle owners in Virginia line up to charge their cars out of worry a cold snap could sap their batteries. (WRIC)

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UTILITIES: Kentucky isn’t among the states that restrict electric utility shutoffs during freezing weather, but customers do have avenues to obtain a hardship reconnection or set up payment plans. (Lexington Herald-Leader)

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COMMENTARY:

• After Texas’ power grid survived the first winter storm of 2024 without major outages, state officials should work to build out more battery storage and transmission lines to access inexpensive wind energy on the Gulf Coast, writes a columnist. (Houston Chronicle)
• Virginia’s narrowly divided state legislature leads Democrats and Republicans to fight over whether to stay the course on landmark clean energy laws that were passed when Democrats had total control of state government, writes a columnist. (Virginia Mercury)

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UTILITIES: Xcel Energy wants time-of-use rates to be the default billing system for its Minnesota residential customers, proposing to double prices for power during peak late afternoon and early evening hours. (Energy News Network)

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WIND:

• As Kansas City utility Evergy’s coal supplies froze during last week’s winter storms, wind turbines provided thousands of megawatts of power to keep the utility’s grid stable. (Capital-Journal)
• A 7,000-acre, fourth-generation ranch in Kansas uses supplemental income from hosting wind turbines to generate steady income. (Yale Climate Connections)

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GRID:

• Michigan has had the second-highest number of major power outages among states since 2000, with 132 events when at least 50,000 customers lost power, according to a Climate Central report. (Planet Detroit)
• Xcel Energy begins installing smart meters in South Dakota, which it says will help customers better monitor power use. (Dakota News Now)

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PIPELINES:

• South Dakota lawmakers defeat a bill that would have required pipeline developers and utilities to obtain written consent from property owners before surveying their land. (Argus Leader)
• St. Louis gas utility Spire buys two interconnecting gas pipeline systems totaling more than 200 miles for $175 million. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

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RENEWABLES: A Michigan panel allows organizers to start collecting signatures for a ballot initiative seeking to overturn a state law giving state regulators authority over renewable energy permitting. (Bridge)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says “disadvantaged, historically excluded or overburdened areas” were a priority with $623 million in recent federal funding for charging infrastructure. (Living On Earth)
• Illinois will use $7 million in federal funding to repair, replace or upgrade more than 100 Level 2 and fast-charging stations across the state. (FOX 2)

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NUCLEAR: The South Dakota House passes a bill to clarify that the governor can enter into federal agreements on nuclear power development in preparation for a new potential plant. (SDBA)

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CLEAN ENERGY: A Michigan lawmaker says the timing of the federal Inflation Reduction Act was a significant reason why the state passed sweeping clean energy reforms last year. (Volts)

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STORAGE:

• A developer proposes a 200 MW battery storage facility in southwestern Minnesota, which would be the largest storage facility in the state. (West Central Tribune)
• A Michigan startup developing organic materials for grid-scale energy storage aims to bring its product to market within the next 18 months. (Crain’s Grand Rapids Business)

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