Indiana Contemplates Independent Action on Coal Ash Management

In the heart of America, the Midwest region is witnessing a flurry of energy developments that are reshaping its landscape. Here's a roundup of the latest news:

Michigan

A growing number of residents are showing interest in electric vehicles (EVs) and chargers with bidirectional charging capabilities, as reported by the Detroit News. Meanwhile, the downtown steam utility in Michigan's second-largest city is planning to replace a gas-fired boiler with an electric model as part of an emission-reduction strategy, according to WZZM.

Indiana

Environmental groups are voicing concerns about potential lax and industry-friendly coal ash regulations in the state, while an Indiana organization is traveling the state to build community support for a network of publicly available EV charging stations, as reported by WANE. However, the organization behind this initiative remains unspecified.

Nebraska

The cornhusker state is seeing a shift in its fuel retail sector, with an increasing number of retailers selling fuel with higher blends of alcohol. Backers claim this move supports local jobs, but critics raise concerns about land use and habitat loss, as reported by Nebraska Public Media.

South Dakota

A data center company representative has expressed concerns that South Dakota is at a disadvantage for securing large projects due to a lack of tax incentives, high energy use, and cost-shifting, according to South Dakota Searchlight.

Iowa

Electric and fuel bills for Iowa families could potentially increase by up to $550 annually due to the U.S. House budget bill eliminating clean energy and electric vehicle credits, as reported by the Des Moines Register.

Missouri

Missouri regulators are assessing potential wildfire risks posed by the state's electric and gas infrastructure, as reported by St. Louis Public Radio.

Chicago

Environmental and public health experts predict that rolling back Biden-era power plant emissions regulations will worsen Chicago's air quality, according to CBS Chicago. New maps indicate that Chicago's south and west side neighborhoods would benefit most from an environmental justice ordinance requiring developers to study cumulative pollution impacts, as reported by the Chicago Tribune.

Maine and California

Anti-wind activists are aiming to leverage the implosion of a Maine floating wind project to push the Trump administration to revoke a grant for a similar project in northern California, as reported by Canary Media.

Beyond the Midwest

In India, Bila Solar has begun producing ultra-lightweight solar modules at a new manufacturing plant in Indianapolis, aiming for 1 GW of annual production under future phases, as reported by PV Magazine.

Regulatory Developments

State regulators and consumer advocates are urging federal regulators to reject MISO's request to exclude third-party transmission monitoring from its market oversight entity, as reported by Utility Dive.