POLICY: The Illinois Clean Energy Jobs Act would set a closure date for the state’s largest coal plant, but it wouldn’t provide financial relief for customers and cities locked into long-term contracts for the power. (Energy News Network)

ALSO: An Illinois House committee advances the Clean Energy Jobs Act as well as legislation to boost funding for renewable energy. (Capital News Illinois)

SOLAR:
• A Minnesota solar energy pioneer is partnering with Black entrepreneurs in North Minneapolis on a residential rooftop solar plan that will also train neighborhood residents for clean energy jobs. (Energy News Network)
• A 5,000-acre solar project is scheduled to come online and provide local tax revenue as a major coal plant is retired in northwestern Indiana. (Yale Climate Connections)
• A 2.25 MW solar project comes online in Milwaukee that will provide $90,000 annual lease payments to the city. (WTMJ)
• A planned 350 MW solar project in central Ohio could provide millions in annual tax revenue to local schools and governments. (Newark Advocate)
• An Ohio village agrees to lease 15 acres of land for a 1,500-acre, 200 MW solar project under development. (Bryan Times)
• Ohio researchers are part of a team developing coatings that could make PV cells used for solar power last six times longer while reducing system costs. (Centered)

OHIO:
• A lobbyist who had pleaded not guilty to his alleged role in a bribery scheme involving Ohio’s power plant bailout law is found dead in Florida. (WOSU)
• FirstEnergy plans to add two members to its board of directors who are backed by activist investor Carl Icahn. (Reuters)

UTILITIES: Major utilities in Ohio, Michigan and Illinois are among the latest examples of U.S. power companies using lobbying and nonprofit front groups to help guide favorable policies. (Audubon)

PIPELINES:
• Enbridge asks Candian officials to support the Line 5 pipeline as the state of Michigan seeks to revoke a key easement in May. (Reuters)
• Canadian officials testify during a Michigan legislative committee that shutting down Line 5 would disrupt international trade and increase fuel costs. (MLive)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• United Auto Workers officials criticize Ford over plans to build electric vehicles at a Mexico plant rather than in Ohio. (Reuters)
• Ford officials urge Congress to increase tax incentives and other federal funding for electric vehicle technology. (Detroit News)
• Clean energy advocates say Indiana lacks utility programs to encourage electric vehicle adoption. (Tribune Star)
• A Kansas utility joins nine others in the Midwest planning an electric vehicle charging station buildout while also asking regulatory permission for a five-year pilot program for current EV drivers. (Joplin Globe)

OIL & GAS: North Dakota expects to collect about $1 billion more in oil taxes over the next two-year budget cycle than what lawmakers forecasted just two months ago. (Associated Press)

WIND: Construction is planned to start this spring on a 200 MW wind project in Iowa. (North American Windpower)

COMMENTARY: Federal climate change policies can help boost clean energy jobs in transportation and renewable energy in Michigan, says the head of the Environmental Law and Policy Center. (Bridge Michigan)