North Dakota eyes nuclear to meet growing demand

NUCLEAR: North Dakota officials say nuclear power may provide a long-term solution to help meet the state’s growing power demand as coal plants retire. (Prairie Public)

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SOLAR:

• An organization developing three community solar projects in traditionally underserved communities around Chicago lands a $1.6 million state-backed loan to help cover pre-construction costs. (Energy News Network)
• County officials approve plans for a 159 MW solar project near Lawrence, Kansas. (Lawrence Times)
• A Wisconsin health center is constructing a large solar canopy on a parking lot that solar advocates believe is the largest canopy project in the state. (WKOW)

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EFFICIENCY: Wisconsin regulators will soon face decisions about how to structure $146 million in federally funded rebate programs for energy efficiency and electrification. (Capital Times)

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UTILITIES:

• Two large Wisconsin utilities seek roughly $800 million in rate increases over the next two years to pay for new renewable energy and gas generation as well as grid infrastructure. (Wisconsin Public Radio)
• Proposed legislation in Michigan would require utilities to use current costs, rather than future estimates, to justify rate increases for grid infrastructure upgrades. (WILX)

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CLEAN ENERGY: The school board in Madison, Wisconsin, sets a net-zero emissions goal by 2045, overriding a previous goal of using 100% renewable energy by 2040. (Wisconsin State Journal)

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PIPELINES:

• Summit Carbon Solutions hopes to work with the developer of an abandoned carbon pipeline project to take over portions of its proposed route where it had already engaged with landowners and local governments. (Waverly Newspapers)
• North Dakota regulators begin public hearings next week to reconsider plans for Summit’s $898 million project. (KXNET)
• An Iowa county board is scheduled to vote today on an ordinance that would require various setback distances for carbon pipelines from populated areas. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

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OIL & GAS: Industry groups in North Dakota claim the Biden administration’s plan to increase royalty fees and leasing rates for drilling on federal land to prevent well abandonment attempts to address a problem that doesn’t exist. (KFYR)

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HYDROPOWER: University of Wisconsin researchers aim to boost the efficiency of hydropower turbines with a new method that limits problems caused by low water pressure. (Spectrum News)

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COMMENTARY: An author and longtime nuclear energy reporter says a plan to restart a Michigan nuclear plant would waste billions of dollars when building out renewables would be a far better option. (Detroit Free Press)

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