Work ramps up to restart Michigan nuclear plant

NUCLEAR: Worker training is ramping up at a shuttered Michigan nuclear plant that within the next year aims to become the first U.S. reactor to restart after being closed. (Michigan Advance)

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CLEAN ENERGY: Midwest clean energy experts say the incoming Trump administration will no doubt usher in a renewed commitment to domestic oil and gas production, but remain hopeful that clean energy investments will continue. (MPR News)

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RENEWABLES: Dozens of Michigan communities band together to file a legal appeal of the state’s new renewable energy siting regulations that give final authority over projects to state regulators. (MLive, subscription)

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FOSSIL FUELS: The Sierra Club criticizes Wisconsin regulators’ recent approval of We Energies’ rate increases that they say are driven by previous bad investments in fossil fuels. (Wisconsin Examiner)

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GRID: The president of grid operator MISO says natural gas plants could be built to meet data centers’ short-term power needs and transition to backup power sources as clean energy plays a bigger role on the grid. (Utility Dive)

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UTILITIES:

• Defense attorneys spend hours questioning a former ComEd executive who has testified that associates of Illinois’ former House Speaker got do-nothing jobs at the utility in exchange for favorable legislation. (Chicago Sun-Times)
• Lower gas prices and the recovery of deferred costs from a 2021 winter storm will allow gas provider Spire Missouri to decrease monthly customer bills by more than 16% on average. (FOX 2)

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EMISSIONS: The U.S. oil industry makes five policy requests to the incoming Trump administration, including repealing tailpipe and fuel economy standards that would be key for reducing transportation emissions. (Inside Climate News)

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BATTERIES:

• Trump’s threats to raise tariffs on imported battery materials could chill near-term energy storage investments in the U.S., analysts say. (Utility Dive)
• Electric vehicle startup Rivian inks a five-year battery supply agreement with LG Energy Solution that will be used in the automaker’s R2 model set to hit the market in early 2026. (Utility Dive)

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SOLAR: A developer reaches an agreement to build two commercial solar projects in Wisconsin before handing over ownership to Wisconsin Public Service Corp. and Madison Gas and Electric. (Solar Industry)

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BIOFUELS: A Michigan fuel supplier aims to increase biofuel sales by 2.5 million gallons per year by installing new fuel dispensers with help from a $4.2 million federal grant. (County Press)

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