Correction: An Illinois community solar developer said its project would benefit Ameren customers. A summary in Thursday’s newsletter misattributed the statement to the utility.

PIPELINES: Enbridge plans to resume heavy construction next week on the Line 3 replacement and expansion through northern Minnesota. (KARE 11)

OHIO: FirstEnergy fires another top executive related to an investigation into the company’s role in the state’s power plant subsidy scandal. (Akron Beacon Journal)

***SPONSORED LINK: Vote Solar is hiring a Regional Director to lead their legislative campaigns and support their regulatory work in Michigan and Minnesota. Location flexible but preference given to applicants rooted in either state. Applications due June 7.***

UTILITIES: Alliant Energy reaches a deal with environmental and consumer advocates to collect more than $85 million from ratepayers to help pay for the utility’s clean energy plan. (Wisconsin Public Radio)

POLICY: Illinois lawmakers continue to pursue sweeping energy reforms even as new indictments are issued related to a bribery investigation involving ComEd. (Illinois Newsroom)

SOLAR:
• Some residents say a planned 250 MW solar project near Columbus, Ohio, would harm the local rural landscape. (Columbus Messenger)
• A University of Wisconsin campus installs solar panels on university buildings to help meet sustainability targets. (WQOW)
• Indiana residents file a lawsuit seeking to block a county ordinance and future utility-scale solar projects. (WEHT)

EMISSIONS: North Dakota environmental advocates raise concerns about Gov. Doug Burgum’s 2030 carbon neutral plan that relies heavily on carbon capture and storage. (Devils Lake Journal)

WIND:
• County officials struggle to find common ground on wind siting regulations as a developer proposes a utility-scale project in central Kansas. (Hutchinson News)
• Developers pursuing a mid-Michigan wind project say they would use software to reduce blinking lights on turbines at night. (Greenville Daily News) 

OIL & GAS: A Missouri city will pursue a loan under a new state relief program after facing skyrocketing fuel costs during February’s cold spell. (Fulton Sun)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Utilities’ role in facilitating electric vehicle infrastructure was a key theme at a climate change conference in northern Michigan this week. (9&10 News)

NUCLEAR: Local officials encourage residents to contact state lawmakers about keeping open two Illinois nuclear plants scheduled to close later this year. (Illinois News Live)

RENEWABLES: Ohio agricultural commodity groups speak out against legislation that proposes to give more local authority in the approval process for utility-scale wind and solar projects. (Farm and Dairy) 

***SPONSORED LINK: The Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition via Fresh Energy is hiring for a Manager of Building Policy and Technology consultant to support policy and technology solutions. Apply before June 1.***

HYDROGEN: The Keystone XL pipeline developer is among oil and gas companies that have hired their first lobbyists to promote low-carbon hydrogen fuels. (E&E News, subscription)

COMMENTARY:
• A St. Louis program will soon transport seniors and disabled residents in electric vehicles, which advocates say helps equitably spread the benefits of electric vehicles. (Natural Resources Defense Council)
• Corruption scandals in Ohio and Illinois are the latest in a “long-standing pattern of manipulation, influence and illegal activity among utilities,” say officials at a conservative clean energy group. (Utility Dive)