Good morning! At least one Minneapolis resident who ditched gas and adopted an electric heat pump for home heating shows the promise of the technology in the coldest major U.S. city as advocates look to ramp up adoption. Also, Illinois remains a leader in community solar, while Ohio ratepayers’ support for unprofitable coal plants nears $700 million over the past decade.
TODAY'S TOP NEWS
ELECTRIFICATION
A Minneapolis resident’s transition from gas-powered heating to an electric heat pump proves that the technology works in cold climates, limiting fossil fuels in homes while lowering bills. (Canary Media)
PIPELINES
The federal government took over regulatory control of Missouri’s gas pipeline system last month after state lawmakers failed to stiffen penalties for operators violating safety standards. (Missouri Independent)
Ameren Illinois is investing $140 million to replace dated gas pipelines and comply with federal guidelines. (Daily Energy Insider)
GRID
Illinois was among the leaders as the U.S. installed a record-breaking amount of community solar projects in 2024 with a 35% increase over 2023, though federal policy uncertainty could hinder long-term growth. (Solar Power World)
OIL & GAS
The Trump administration is trying to cancel a national green bank program that provides loans for clean energy projects and previously had bipartisan support from lawmakers across the country. (Grist)
Some recipients of the $20 billion in climate grants through the green bank were unable to access their accounts on Wednesday. (E&E News, subscription)
COAL
Ohio ratepayers have now spent $679 million over the past decade in fees to cover losses on two unprofitable coal plants, including $172 million in 2024 alone. (Cleveland.com)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
A metro Detroit electric vehicle battery maker will lay off 188 workers and shift production to a plant in South Carolina as financing challenges continue for battery startups. (Detroit Free Press)
CLEAN ENERGY
A Minneapolis startup uses abundant raw materials to produce permanent magnets that are used in a variety of clean energy technologies. (WCCO)
BIOGAS
Investments in U.S. projects that use biogas grew 40% in 2024 over the previous year while the number of new biogas facilities that came online increased 17% in that time, signaling ongoing interest in the sector, advocates say. (Waste Dive)
COMMENTARY
Brownfields, rooftops and other underutilized spaces are promising opportunities to site solar projects in Michigan that also can avoid bitter land use disputes often associated with greenfields or farmland, a clean energy advocate writes. (Bridge)
A Michigan official who was recalled after serving nearly two decades on her township board because she supported a renewable energy project welcomes a new state law giving the state siting oversight. (Bridge)
ATTENTION CHICAGO: UPCOMING EVENT
On stage: Conversations with clean energy experts, including Rep. Sean Casten of the U.S. Congress, Naomi Davis of Blacks in Green, Kara Demirjian Huss of TCCI Manufacturing, A.J. Patton of 548 Enterprises, David Roberts of Volts, Angela Tovar of the city of Chicago and Lisa Clemmons Stott of the Illinois Department of Commerce.
Off stage: Drink, eat, and socialize with clean energy leaders, investors, inventors, public leaders, and advocates.
🗓️March 27, 2025, 2:00 - 7:00p.m. CDT
📍 mHUB • 1623 West Fulton Street Chicago, IL 60612
.jpg?upscale=true&width=1200&upscale=true&name=CL-chicago-banner%20(1).jpg)
