Good morning! Three large Michigan gas utilities are expected to spend nearly $60 billion on infrastructure projects by 2050. Advocates say the problem with this is twofold: Expanding the gas grid means those who stay on gas in their homes shoulder those costs compared to customers who electrify. Plus, climate targets are tougher to reach by requiring steeper reductions in other sectors, such as industry, that are more difficult to decarbonize, Planet Detroit reports.
TODAY'S TOP NEWS
NATURAL GAS
Three large Michigan gas utility providers could spend $57.6 billion on gas infrastructure by 2050, causing spikes in customer bills while making it more difficult for the state to meet its climate goals, consumer and clean energy advocates say. (Planet Detroit)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Seventeen states sue the Trump administration for withholding billions of dollars in federal electric vehicle charging funding allocated under former President Biden. (Associated Press)
Large southeastern Michigan auto supplier BorgWarner is ending its electric vehicle charging unit and consolidating its battery business as it contends with shrinking volume and tariff uncertainty. (Crain’s Detroit)
Ohio clean air advocates worry that federal efforts to revoke waivers for stricter vehicle emission standards as well as EV incentives will lead to more air pollution. (Public News Service)
CLEAN ENERGY
The GOP-led Michigan House passes legislation to exempt Upper Peninsula gas plants from the state’s clean energy targets. (Detroit News)
GRID
The developer of the 800-mile Grain Belt Express transmission line announces $1.7 billion in contracts to local firms building the project. (Kansas Reflector)
SOLAR
A Minnesota solar installer says a proposed state energy omnibus bill contains multiple threats to the industry, such as eliminating a utility funding program, scaling back net metering and ending community solar. (Minnesota Reformer)
Construction starts on a 430 MW solar project in Missouri that’s part of the state’s larger development pipeline over the next five years. (PV Magazine)
Northern Illinois local officials delay a vote on a proposed solar project to consider residents’ concerns over safety and local labor use. (Shaw Local)
EFFICIENCY
The Trump administration plans to end the popular Energy Star efficiency certification program for appliances, which has saved more than $500 billion in energy costs since its creation in 1992. (New York Times)
BATTERIES
Opponents of a planned $2.36 billion battery plant in rural western Michigan testify before a state House committee on corporate subsidies and state investment as the project remains on hold pending litigation. (Michigan Advance)
GEOTHERMAL
An Iowa school district settles a nearly $400,000 lawsuit over contamination and damage caused by the installation of a geothermal system. (Ames Tribune)
BIOMASS
Local officials in northern Michigan set up dropoff sites for residents’ wood debris left behind after a recent ice storm that will be turned into energy at biomass plants. (Interlochen Public Radio)
COMMENTARY
Rising electric bills, economic uncertainty and shrinking federal support for clean energy means Minnesota should be expanding its community solar program rather than eliminating it, a nonprofit executive writes. (Star Tribune)
NEW FROM CANARY
California lawmakers consider a bill that would undo net-metering contracts for nearly 2 million homes that have installed rooftop solar, but would hardly reduce high electricity costs the proposal is meant to address, Jeff. St John reports.
Federal funding cuts worry electric cooperatives who are relying on them to build renewable generation and make needed grid updates, Keaton Peters reports for High Country News.
Canary Media is an independent, nonprofit newsroom covering the transition to clean energy and solutions to the climate crisis. Donate to support us.
