Pipeline legislation rejected by Governor
In the realm of energy and infrastructure, the United States has been a hive of activity in recent times. Here's a snapshot of some key developments taking place across the country.
North Dakota leaders have welcomed the Trump administration's plan to repeal Biden-era air pollution rules, which they believe would have cost the U.S. coal industry $1.2 billion. Meanwhile, in Iowa, a weeklong fire at an ethanol plant resulted in a loss of about $5 million in corn stover and has been deemed an arson by local authorities.
In the Midwest, Minnesota legislators have passed a compromise bill allowing data centers to keep tax breaks but requiring them to follow water and energy conservation rules and pay for power infrastructure costs. A similar regulation has been imposed by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, mandating water and energy conservation for data centers and imposing the costs of utility infrastructure on the companies.
Georgia Republican Rep. Buddy Carter discussed Hyundai's EV factory, nuclear development, and his vote on the 'big, beautiful bill' with Julian Spector. In Ohio, Geronimo started operations at two solar projects, totaling 167.5 MW of capacity.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds vetoed a bill that would have made it more difficult to use eminent domain for carbon pipelines, citing concerns about its potential impact on the state's biofuel industry. In contrast, Central Michigan residents are worried about the potential costs, land disruption, and use of eminent domain for a pair of transmission projects pending state approval.
In the eastern states, South Dakota emergency responders have raised concerns about Black Hills Energy's plan to shut off utilities in certain cases to mitigate wildfire risks. In North Carolina, a bill could end up costing ratepayers $87 million more every year due to changes in how Duke Energy distributes electricity purchasing costs.
Michigan economic development officials defended their support for a Ford EV battery manufacturing plant, which included a technology licensing and agreement with a Chinese company. General Motors, on the other hand, has announced a new plan to invest $4 billion in mostly gasoline-powered cars, indicating it has abandoned a goal to produce only electric vehicles by 2035, according to analysts.
Some solar developers have threatened to stop doing business in Maine if lawmakers pass legislation imposing fees on existing community solar installations. In Indiana, a developer reintroduced a utility-scale solar project with a proposal that reduced its footprint by more than half and increased setback distances.
AEP Ohio is unable to recoup the costs of a new 500 MW substation coming online in August, as the Intel chip factory it was meant to support has been delayed until at least 2030 or 2031. In the transportation sector, Minnesota lawmakers passed a bill that increased annual fees for electric vehicle drivers to help fund road repairs.
Lastly, in the realm of politics, a bill in the North Carolina Senate has been a topic of discussion, with analysts suggesting it could lead to increased costs for ratepayers. Meanwhile, in Minnesota, lawmakers removed language from a proposed bill that would have phased out the state's community solar garden program, a win for solar advocates.
Read also:
- Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: BP Faces Record-Breaking Settlement - Dubbed 'Largest Environmental Fine Ever Imposed'
- Cars' Environmental Impact Explained
- Lawsuit of Phenomenal Magnitude: FIFA under threat due to Diarra's verdict, accused of player injustice
- The German automobile sector requires advancement in environmentally friendly steel production
