Minnesota nonprofit connects investors with low-income solar

SOLAR: A Minnesota solar nonprofit matches socially conscious investors’ cash with lower-income homeowners to spread the benefits of clean energy in a Minneapolis neighborhood. (Energy News Network)

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ALSO: Solar output is poised to steadily grow in South Dakota after the state’s first utility-scale project came online in late 2023. (PV Magazine)

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ELECTRIFICATION: A proposed ordinance would make Chicago the first major Midwestern city to ban natural gas hookups in most new construction. (Grist)

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POLITICS: Nebraska lawmakers advance a bill that would end nonpartisan elections to the state’s two largest public power districts as supporters decry outside political contributions to clean energy supporters. (Lincoln Journal Star)

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PIPELINES:

• In a blow to carbon pipeline opponents, North Dakota regulators are set to rule that the agency’s decisions in pipeline siting applications supersede local ordinances. (Bismarck Tribune)
• Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says she is open to future but not retroactive policy changes to how state regulators review carbon pipeline applications. (Radio Iowa)

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CLEAN ENERGY: Michigan’s sweeping new climate and renewable energy laws will help increase the amount of federal clean energy funding that flows to the state, experts say. (Michigan Advance)

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UTILITIES:

• A financial audit of two large West Virginia utilities found that customers’ rates did not include charges linked to the House Bill 6 bribery scandal in Ohio. (WTRF)
• Public Utilities Commission of Ohio staff members allowed AEP officials to redact parts of an audit into the operations of two coal plants that are being subsidized by HB6. (Checks and Balances Project)

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STORAGE: Indiana regulators approve plans for a 200 MW battery storage facility that’s expected to come online by the end of the year. (Vincennes PBS)

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WIND: North Dakota regulators are holding a hearing today on plans for a 200 MW, $316 million wind project in the heart of the state’s coal country. (North Dakota Monitor)

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EFFICIENCY:

• Worker shortages create challenges for Michigan’s weatherization goals as hundreds of millions of federal dollars flow in for efficiency upgrades. (Bridge)
• Ameren Missouri files plans with state regulators that would provide $205 million in rebates until 2027 for various residential and business energy efficiency programs. (FOX 2)

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BIOGAS: Minnesota county officials will hold public hearings in the coming weeks on plans for a $13.9 million renewable natural gas pipeline. (West Central Tribune)

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COMMENTARY:

• Instead of mandates preventing new construction to exclude natural gas hookups, Illinois lawmakers should incentivize the move and convince people the switch is in their interest, an editorial board writes. (Chicago Sun-Times)
• The leader of an Illinois union representing energy workers raises concerns about state regulators’ recent decision rejecting grid investment plans from ComEd and Ameren. (Chicago Sun-Times)

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