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)

Andy compiles the Midwest Energy News digest and was a journalism fellow for Midwest Energy News from 2014-2020. He is managing editor of MiBiz in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and was formerly a reporter and editor at City Pulse, Lansing’s alternative newsweekly.