Good morning! Wisconsin utility regulators unanimously agree that We Energies is acting prudently to build $1.5 billion in new gas capacity, despite challenges from environmental and consumer groups who promoted cleaner and cheaper options. The utility says the capacity and reliability is needed to meet growing demand from data centers, highlighting states’ broader struggle to power data centers while meeting emissions and clean energy targets.
Note to readers: This newsletter will not publish on Monday in observance of Memorial Day. We’ll see you back on Tuesday!
TODAY'S TOP NEWS
FOSSIL FUELS
Wisconsin regulators approve We Energies’ plan to invest about $1.5 billion in new gas plants to offset coal plant closures and meet rising demand from data centers. (Wisconsin Public Radio)
DATA CENTERS
Amazon suspends plans for a large data center in Minnesota after state lawmakers agreed to eliminate a sales tax exemption on electricity to power the facilities. (Star Tribune)
EMISSIONS
A Michigan Democrat joins all Republican U.S. Senators by voting to prevent California from enforcing its tailpipe emissions regulations on new cars and trucks, creating uncertainty for the 17 other states that have followed California. (Stateline)
SOLAR
Two tribal-led Minnesota nonprofits have merged to produce solar thermal systems aimed at lowering heating costs for tribal households who face disproportionately high energy bills. (MPR News)
Michigan will continue to pause utility-scale solar development on state-owned forestland as it works on a framework to evaluate the projects. (Detroit Free Press)
GRID
PJM’s delays in bringing new renewable energy projects online have contributed to expected spikes in Illinois ratepayers’ electric bills, consumer advocates say. (WBEZ)
WIND
A developer planning a 45-turbine northwestern Iowa wind installation says a county’s draft wind ordinance would likely make the project nearly impossible. (Radio Iowa)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Before Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s political disputes with Elon Musk, Tesla played a central role in growing the state’s electric vehicle adoption rate. (Star Tribune)
PIPELINES
South Dakota groups critical of carbon pipelines celebrate the removal of a provision in the budget reconciliation process that would have allowed federal regulators to approve pipeline projects over state and local prohibitions. (South Dakota Searchlight)
OIL & GAS
At least 2,500 gallons of oil spilled from an overfilled rail tanker outside Columbus, Ohio, and reached creeks and a public park. (WOSU)
BIOFUELS
Iowa ethanol advocates and farmers call on Gov. Kim Reynolds to veto a bill that would restrict carbon pipeline development and that they say would cause unintended consequences for the state’s economy. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)
The bill would be a “death blow” for the owner of an ethanol plant that plans to connect to a gas pipeline that’s being retooled to transport carbon for sequestration. (Radio Iowa)
CLEAN ENERGY
A South Dakota labor leader who claims to favor coal also says eliminating federal clean energy production tax credits would harm the state’s ability to attract investments. (SDPB)
NEW FROM CANARY
A Maine community college’s heat pump lab is training workers to install and repair the electric appliances, which have become a central piece of the state’s climate plan, Kristen Moravec reports.
A geothermal project in northern California is among a growing contingent of clean energy projects looking to hire local employees, and workforce and education officials are ramping up programs to train them, Aly Brown reports.
As global EV adoption continues to soar, battery-powered cars are on track to make up a quarter of global vehicle sales this year, Dan McCarthy reports.
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