Minnesota Lawmakers Demand Line 3 Permit Halt Amid Drought Spills; North Dakota Approves CO2 Pipeline, Ohio Wind Project Stalls

Nine drilling fluid spills during a severe drought have Minnesota lawmakers calling for a temporary halt to Enbridge's Line 3 permits. Meanwhile, North Dakota approves a CO2 pipeline, and Ohio's wind project faces regulatory hurdles.

, and Administrator

2025 October 3 . 7:05 PM

2 min read

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Minnesota Lawmakers Demand Line 3 Permit Halt Amid Drought Spills; North Dakota Approves CO2 Pipeline, Ohio Wind Project Stalls

Thirty-two Minnesota lawmakers urge a state agency to temporarily halt Enbridge's Line 3 permits due to nine drilling fluid spills during a severe drought. Meanwhile, North Dakota approves permits for a carbon dioxide pipeline, and Ohio's wind project faces a setback. Exelon warns of nuclear plant closures in Illinois, while USA ethanol plants commit to net-zero emissions by 2050.

Lawmakers in Minnesota have expressed concern over Enbridge's Line 3 project, citing nine drilling fluid spills during a widespread drought. They have called on the state agency to suspend the project's permits temporarily. The project has faced ongoing protests from indigenous communities, with Winona LaDuke stating, 'We're gonna stand here and fight it out.'

In North Dakota, regulators have given the green light to a pipeline that will transport carbon dioxide emissions from a synthetic fuels plant to an underground storage site. Meanwhile, a developer in Ohio has appealed a decision by state regulators to reject plans for a wind project in the northern part of the state.

Exelon has threatened to shut down two nuclear plants in Illinois if an agreement isn't reached to subsidize them. In Ohio, former top energy regulator Sam Randazzo helped draft provisions in a statewide power plant subsidy bill that guaranteed FirstEnergy an estimated $355 million in profits over five years. The bill has been criticized for its controversial provisions.

More than 40 U.S. ethanol plants have pledged to help the Biden administration reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This commitment comes as part of a broader effort to reduce the country's carbon footprint.

The push for renewable energy and sustainability faces challenges and setbacks, from protests against pipeline projects to regulatory hurdles for wind projects. Meanwhile, the threat of nuclear plant closures highlights the need for policy solutions to support clean energy. Despite these obstacles, the commitment of USA ethanol plants to net-zero emissions by 2050 offers hope for a greener future.