Good morning! The Trump administration is doing what it can to prop up and extend the life of coal plants — but it means little to Michigan’s two large utilities, DTE Energy and Consumers Energy. The two investor-owned utilities say they’re moving forward with plans to retire two large coal plants, while environmental advocates question the constitutionality of targeting state climate laws.
Also in Michigan, a proposal to label Upper Peninsula gas plants as clean energy has bipartisan support, and major universities seek to protect advanced energy funding.
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TODAY'S TOP NEWS
COAL
Michigan’s two large investor-owned utilities say President Trump’s executive orders to prop up the coal industry will not delay their plans to retire large coal plants. (Planet Detroit)
Two Ameren coal plants around St. Louis receive air pollution exemptions from the Trump administration. (St. Louis Public Radio)
FOSSIL FUELS
Michigan lawmakers advance a pair of bills that would designate two new Upper Peninsula gas plants as clean energy under a recent state law to potentially avoid their early closure. (Bridge)
BATTERIES
LG Energy Solution plans to manufacture energy storage batteries at a sprawling western Michigan factory once it moves electric vehicle battery production to a new plant in Lansing. (Crain’s Grand Rapids)
RESEARCH
Michigan’s top two universities join a lawsuit seeking to nullify a Department of Energy policy change they say would jeopardize tens of millions of dollars for advanced energy research. (MLive)
Wisconsin lawmakers look to support researchers’ work on nuclear fusion technology, which promises an alternative to fission that doesn’t generate nuclear waste. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
STORAGE
Illinois clean energy trade groups want state regulators to amend a draft report to increase the state’s energy storage targets to meet the state’s grid needs. (Solar Power World)
GRID
Indiana lawmakers advance legislation that requires companies like data centers to cover 80% of the costs of building new grid infrastructure to meet their needs. (WFYI)
Kansas lawmakers approve tax incentives to lure hyperscale data centers, though they include restrictions on facilities’ ability to build their own power plants. (Kansas Reflector)
SOLAR
Ohio regulators will decide Thursday whether to approve Stark Solar’s plans for a 150 MW solar project outside Dayton. (Canton Repository)
Michigan awards $8.1 million in grants to support four local governments’ efforts to encourage solar development. (WOOD-TV8)
Detroit-based DTE Energy starts construction on a 100 MW solar project that will supply power for Ford. (Renewables Now)
COMMENTARY
Minnesota’s net-metering law that allows residents with solar installations to sell excess power back to the grid at retail rates is an outdated subsidy that harms low-income ratepayers, municipal and electric co-op executives say. (Star Tribune)
NEW FROM CANARY MEDIA
Massachusetts regulators approve plans from National Grid and Unitil to offer lower seasonal electricity rates to heat pump owners, with a similar plan from Eversource in the works, Sarah Shemkus reports.
Making plant-based meals the default at New York City hospitals proves an emission-reducing success, and shows how making climate-friendly options the norm can encourage their adoption, Michael Grunwald writes.
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