OHIO: Federal agents yesterday arrested Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and four others accused of accepting $60 million in bribes to support a $1 billion bailout of Ohio’s two nuclear plants, which one writer had dubbed “the worst energy bill of the 21st Century.” (Dayton Daily News, Vox)

ALSO:
• The money was allegedly used to enrich the defendants and was funneled to political candidates who would support Householder’s election as Speaker. (NPR)
• A spokesperson for FirstEnergy, which is not named in the complaint, confirmed that it has received subpoenas and will “fully cooperate.” (Cincinnati Enquirer)
• Gov. Mike DeWine calls for Householder’s resignation while clean energy advocates say the power plant bailout law, which also gutted clean energy and efficiency standards, should be re-examined or repealed. (Cleveland.com)
• Read previous Energy News Network coverage on the web of dark money spending surrounding Ohio’s nuclear and coal bailout. 

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CLEAN ENERGY:
• New York releases a solicitation for 4,000 MW for offshore wind and land-based clean energy, the largest ever by any state. (PV Magazine)
• More than 30 companies including McDonald’s and Pepsi urge Congress to include support for clean energy in the next coronavirus relief bill. (The Hill)
• Walmart is weighing in more frequently with Florida regulators on issues that affect its energy bills, especially when it comes to renewable energy. (Tampa Bay Times)

CLIMATE: Apple says all of the devices it sells by 2030 will be carbon-neutral. (The Guardian)

UTILITIES: Wisconsin-based Alliant Energy announces a net zero emissions electricity goal by 2050, saying it will deliver billions of dollars in savings for customers. (Wisconsin State Journal)

WIND:
• A new study says beachgoers are largely indifferent to offshore wind projects that are sited 10 miles or more from shore. (Energy News Network)
• U.S. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt visits Massachusetts officials and fishing interests to promote offshore wind development “in a way that works.” (CommonWealth Magazine)

PIPELINES:
• A coalition of 20 states and the District of Columbia sue the EPA over a decision to limit states’ ability to stop pipelines and other projects over waterways. (Associated Press)
• Pipeline opponents celebrate the cancellation of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and stalling of other projects, but natural gas projects will continue for some time. (Daily Yonder)

GRID: Renewable energy developer Enel announces plans for 1 GW of new energy storage by 2022. (Greentech Media)

NUCLEAR: A group of women form a nuclear advocacy group to help shift the tone away from “nuclear bros.” (Vox)

TRANSPORTATION: The EPA is expected to announce its first emissions standards for commercial aircraft today. (Reuters)

EQUITY:
• A Connecticut legislator proposes a stricter environmental justice law for siting polluting sources 12 years after one that passed has proved ineffectual. (InsideClimate News)
• A new report finds that putting energy development projects near communities of color is one of the reasons why racialized groups are three times more likely to live in areas with limited access to nature. (Washington Post)
• Alaska Native land defenders and others push back on fossil fuel advocates labelling opposition to Arctic drilling as “green racism”. (InsideClimate News)

OVERSIGHT: Democrats from Western states push for an expedited hearing for William Perry Pendley’s nomination to lead the BLM, saying “the public deserves the opportunity to hold him accountable for his record of undermining our public lands.” (The Hill)

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POLICY: Experts explain how Joe Biden could use the Clean Air Act to revive U.S. climate policy despite the Trump administration’s rollbacks. (E&E News)

COMMENTARY:
• An Ohio editorial board routinely criticized the state bailout bill at the center of a bribery scandal, highlighting a “legislative system that rewards deep-pocketed lobbyists and dark-money contributors.” (Cleveland.com)
• A writer evaluating Apple’s climate plan says the company’s “ratio of ambition to baloney is approximately 5:1.” (Grist)

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Ken Paulman

Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy and is a founding editor of both Midwest Energy News and Southeast Energy News. Prior to joining Fresh Energy, he was the managing editor for online news at Minnesota Public Radio. He started his journalism career in 2002 as a copy editor for the Duluth News Tribune before spending five years at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, where he worked as a copy editor, online producer, features editor and night city editor. A Nebraska native, Ken has a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors.