Chicago building electrification plan faces union pushback

ELECTRIFICATION: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson plans to introduce an ordinance this week that would ban natural gas hookups in new buildings and homes, a climate strategy facing pushback from a powerful local union. (Sun-Times)

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OIL & GAS: Ohio environmental groups are challenging a state commission’s claims that its decisions to allow oil and gas drilling in state parks and wildlife areas can’t be appealed in court. (Energy News Network)

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SOLAR:

• Minnesota regulators are considering a proposal that would save Xcel Energy ratepayers $48 million annually but shrink community solar bill credits for participating municipalities and school districts. (Star Tribune)
• A Boston clean energy company announces plans for a second headquarters in Chicago along with plans to invest an additional $2 billion in solar and storage projects in Illinois. (Sun-Times)
• Solar installations for houses of worship across Michigan and the country became more appealing under the federal Inflation Reduction Act, which allows them to directly claim tax credits. (Interlochen Public Radio)

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HYDROGEN: At a mini-village project site in Ohio, Dominion Energy is testing the potential of blending hydrogen and natural gas for appliances. (Spectrum News)

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GRID: Federal regulators reject a proposed cap on MISO’s interconnection queue, saying it could hurt the grid operator’s ability to cover potential short-term supply shortfalls. (Utility Dive)

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PIPELINES:

• A forthcoming U.S. Justice Department brief will show the Biden administration’s view on how a 1977 energy treaty with Canada affects efforts to shut down the Line 5 pipeline in Michigan. (Canadian Press)
• The South Dakota Corn Growers Association takes a formal position in support of carbon pipelines but hopes for state legislation that incentivizes voluntary land leases. (Brownfield Ag)

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OIL & GAS: North Dakota officials estimate that as much as 700,000 barrels of oil production per day was lost over last week during historically low temperatures. (KFYR)

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NUCLEAR: The University of Illinois hopes to secure funding and approval to build an on-campus nuclear reactor that would be allowed under a new state law lifting the state’s moratorium on nuclear construction. (Crain’s Chicago Business, subscription)

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RENEWABLES: An Illinois Republican proposes a bill allowing counties to reinstate local wind and solar restrictions that were nullified under a 2023 law establishing statewide siting standards. (Ford County Chronicle)

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BIOFUELS: The South Dakota Senate unanimously passes a bill allowing gas stations to claim a fuel tax refund of up to 5 cents per gallon of ethanol sold. (South Dakota Searchlight)

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