New owners vow to prolong life of large Ohio coal plant

COAL: The private equity firms that now own a large, polluting Ohio coal plant say in regulatory filings that the facility “will continue to operate for so long as they are legally able to do so on an economic basis.” (Ohio Capital Journal)

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SOLAR:

• Michigan plans to clear cut and lease 420 acres of state forest land for solar development to help meet its clean energy goals, a move one official acknowledges is “not incredibly popular with everyone.” (MLive)
• Ameren brought online three solar projects last month in Illinois and Missouri totaling 500 MW of capacity and $950 million in investment. (Spectrum News)

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NUCLEAR:

• Federal regulators renew the operating license for a Minnesota nuclear plant, allowing the facility to operate until 2050. (MPR News)
• The federal government signs a 10-year, $1 billion power purchase agreement with Constellation Energy to supply nuclear power to dozens of federal facilities in grid operator PJM’s territory. (Reuters)

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UTILITIES: Xcel Energy customers will see a temporary 5.2% electric rate hike in 2025 as the utility requests a larger increase to help pay for grid improvements and its transition off fossil fuels. (Star Tribune)

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CLEAN ENERGY: The $700 billion in tax credits expected from the Inflation Reduction Act will motivate $2 trillion in private investment and produce trillions of dollars in net benefits, according to a study commissioned by the American Clean Power Association. (Utility Dive)

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PIPELINES:

• A judge denies Greenpeace’s attempt to investigate the source of a pro-fossil fuel mailer critical of Dakota Access pipeline protesters that the environmental group says may have targeted potential jurors in its legal battle with the pipeline owner. (North Dakota Monitor)
• South Dakota county officials delayed a vote late last month on four carbon pipeline ordinances to give planning staff and newly elected officials time to consider their options. (South Dakota Searchlight)

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POWER PLANTS: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs a bill creating long-term tax incentives for large data centers, including for facilities built on former power plant properties. (Michigan Advance)

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EFFICIENCY: While federal tax rebates for residential heat pumps may go away under the Trump administration, both red and blue states could continue incentive programs based on their popularity, experts say. (MPR News)

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COMMENTARY: The head of Indiana’s recently created green bank says the organization will provide low-cost financing for small clean energy projects and help ease energy cost pressures amid rising inflation. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)

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