Good morning! The top Democrat serving on a Minnesota House energy committee wants the state to prepare for an influx of data centers by requiring more than half of their power come from carbon-free sources, and for them to disclose their electricity use. The bill, which got its first hearing on Tuesday, has the support of Gov. Tim Walz but opposition from several utilities, a coalition of data center operators and major tech firms.
Plus, the Trump administration raises concerns over an Iowa transmission bill, and nonprofits share what’s at stake under the EPA’s green bank attacks.
TODAY'S TOP NEWS
GRID
A Minnesota Democrat proposes a bill to require data centers to have a 65% carbon-free energy supply and publicly disclose electricity consumption. (Star Tribune)
The Justice Department raises concerns about a right-of-first-refusal provision in Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ energy plan, saying the proposal giving in-state utilities first rights to build transmission projects would raise costs and stifle competition. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)
Federal regulators are unlikely to approve by mid-year PJM’s proposed rules for utilities to co-locate data centers at power plants, which could set a precedent for similar proposals across the country. (Utility Dive)
Damaged transformers from a large thunderstorm over the weekend caused mineral oil to spill into a western Michigan river. (MLive)
EFFICIENCY
An Indiana faith-based group building energy-efficient housing for low-income residents is among U.S. organizations threatened as the U.S. EPA looks to claw back “green bank” funding.(Inside Climate News)
OIL & GAS
State officials are in limbo about the future of a federal program that supports orphaned oil and gas well cleanup as the Trump administration begins to release funds. (E&E News)
COAL
The Trump administration takes steps toward leasing new areas of a North Dakota coal mine that would operate through 2045 and align with the administration’s fossil fuel goals. (Reuters)
An Indiana environmental group sues to overturn state regulators’ decision allowing a power plant owner to discharge untreated groundwater from its operations that the group contends is contaminated from nearby coal ash ponds. (Herald Times)
CLIMATE
The Chicago Transit Authority is among public transit agencies in blue-led states that the Trump administration has threatened with funding cuts as they pursue climate-friendly projects. (Grist)
SOLAR
A developer completes the third, 100 MW phase of an Indiana solar project that will supply power for Amazon. (PV Magazine)
RENEWABLES
A Cleveland suburb seeks new suppliers for its clean energy aggregation program that purchases renewable energy credits for the city. (Cleveland.com)
POLITICS
Summer sentencing dates have been set for four former ComEd officials and lobbyists convicted of a conspiracy to illegally influence Illinois’ former House speaker in exchange for favorable legislation. (Chicago Sun-Times)
NEW FROM CANARY MEDIA
The U.S. EPA’s revocation of a permit for the Atlantic Shores offshore wind farm suggests the agency is increasing its leverage over the industry, and anti-wind groups are looking to work that power shift in their favor, Clare Fieseler reports.
GoogleX spinout Dandelion Energy and homebuilder Lennar partner to build ground-source geothermal heat pumps in more than 1,500 new Colorado homes over the next two years, Jeff. St. John reports.
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