Feds announce $22.4 billion in utility loans for clean energy projects

GRID: Utilities in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin are among the recipients of $22.4 billion in conditional loan guarantees announced by the U.S. Department of Energy for renewable energy and gas modernization projects, but it’s unclear if the Trump administration will finalize them. (Canary Media)

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COAL:

• Michigan regulators will hold a public hearing this month to designate parts of Detroit and surrounding areas as meeting federal sulfur dioxide air quality standards following the closure of two nearby coal plants. (Planet Detroit)
• Prioritizing the retirement of Pennsylvania coal plants in environmental justice communities could prevent up to 136 premature deaths caused by air pollution across states in grid operator PJM’s Great Lakes territory, according to a new published study. (Environmental Health News)
• Coal plants across the Midwest have moved back anticipated retirement dates as forecasted demand grows and federal policy potentially changes under the Trump administration. (Inside Climate News)

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SOLAR: A Michigan researcher says the controversy over leasing state-owned land for solar is unsurprising because “we haven’t really come to terms with” the land use implications of renewable energy. (Bridge)

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PIPELINES: Cleaning up a recent spill from the Line 6 pipeline in Wisconsin will cost more than $1 million, Enbridge tells federal regulators. (Wisconsin State Journal, subscription)

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FOSSIL FUELS: During his confirmation hearing for interior secretary, former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum says the U.S. should leverage fossil fuel development for “energy dominance” and questions the reliability of renewable energy. (Associated Press)

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CLIMATE: A national nonprofit formed by college students to make the conservative case for climate action hopes to convince the Trump administration to pursue an “America-first climate strategy.” (Grist)

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NUCLEAR: North Dakota lawmakers consider the potential of building new nuclear or coal plants with carbon capture technology to meet future electricity needs, though experts say both options would be expensive. (Bismarck Tribune)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Illinois officials say a $114 million federal grant 14 electric truck charging hubs will position the state as a leader in electrified freight transportation. (FOX 2)

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COMMENTARY: Ohio’s economy has benefited from wind and solar development, though that progress could be in jeopardy if the Inflation Reduction Act is scaled back, clean energy advocates say. (Natural Resources Defense Council)

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