Minn. gas utility’s climate plan is a start — but more needed, critics say

UTILITIES: Clean energy advocates applaud Minnesota’s largest gas utility for drafting a $105 million decarbonization plan, but say it doesn’t move fast enough to meet state emission-reduction targets. (Energy News Network)

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POLITICS:

• An aide to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine stays quiet about her knowledge of a $4.3 million payment FirstEnergy made to an attorney who DeWine went on to appoint to the Public Utilities Commission. (Ohio Capital Journal)
• An Ohio bill would prohibit utilities from passing lobbying costs on to ratepayers and require more disclosures of political spending. (WFMJ)

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PIPELINES:

• A federal judge says the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers should have required Dakota Access pipeline protesters to obtain a permit to camp on Corps land during protests in late 2016 and early 2017. (South Dakota Searchlight)
• An investigation determines that a reported leak in rural South Dakota was unrelated to the Keystone pipeline. (Dakota Scout)

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CARBON CAPTURE: The developer of a multi-state carbon pipeline says it remains open to contracts that offtake the carbon for enhanced oil recovery, despite sworn testimony that the project is for underground storage. (Reuters)

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EMISSIONS: Indiana regulators say they are limited in setting more stringent air pollution requirements, though former state officials say options are available to reduce pollution in areas that fail to meet air quality standards. (IPR)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES: U.S. automakers are rebalancing budgets and laying off workers as they contend with shifting electric vehicle demand and higher labor costs. (Detroit News, subscription)

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RENEWABLES: A new online tool allows users to see how much wind and solar power was generated on a certain date. (Des Moines Register)

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BIOFUELS: Executives planning a sustainable jet fuel production plant in South Dakota say their company is undervalued and will offer an effective way for airlines to hit their emission-reduction targets. (South Dakota Searchlight)

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COMMENTARY:

• Xenophobia is taking over a central Ohio town where opponents seek to halt a joint venture involving a Chinese company  from building a planned solar panel factory, an editorial board writes. (Columbus Dispatch)
• An Iowa climate activist says climate change is costing state residents upwards of thousands of dollars per year through higher insurance premiums and soaring food prices. (Des Moines Register)

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