OHIO: Federal authorities are scheduled to make a “public corruption announcement” this morning in connection with an ongoing investigation involving the state’s power plant bailout law. (Cincinnati Enquirer)

ALSO: Multiple candidates in an Ohio congressional race have lobbying or fundraising ties to groups that were closely involved in passing the state’s scandal-tainted power plant subsidy law. (Columbus Dispatch)

COAL: A Cleveland-area coal plant will close within the next year ahead of its planned sale to a developer with plans to repurpose the 40-acre lakefront property. (Cleveland.com)

PIPELINES: Minnesota law enforcement agencies in charge of policing Line 3 pipeline protests expect to benefit from additional funding if the project is completed. (The Intercept)

CLIMATE:
• A citizen of the Red Lake Nation in Minnesota is instrumental in helping the tribe mitigate the effects of climate change through new renewable energy businesses. (Yale Climate Connections)
• Senior Biden administration officials say the Midwest will play a key role in emission reductions as part of the U.S. climate strategy. (Indiana Environmental Reporter)

SOLAR:
• Developers hold their first public meeting to discuss plans for a 135 MW solar project in eastern Ohio. (Morning Journal)
• Twelve rural electric cooperatives in Kansas and the surrounding region partner to enter into contracts for nearly 22 MW of solar. (Pratt Tribune)
• Alliant Energy says a new solar-plus-storage project in Iowa is expected to save customers money while making the local grid more resilient. (KWWL)

WIND: A nearly 200 MW Indiana wind project is now operational and supplying power for Facebook and Walmart. (InsideIndiana Business)

OIL & GAS:
• Nearly 41,000 gallons of oilfield wastewater spills from a broken pipeline in western North Dakota. (Associated Press)
• A worker shortage in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused North Dakota oil production to remain flat. (Associated Press)

CLEAN ENERGY: Officials in Bloomington, Indiana, launch a program that provides rebates to homeowners who install efficiency and renewable energy projects. (Indiana Daily Student)

MICROGRIDS: An Exelon official says public and private microgrids are key for grid resiliency but remain expensive and difficult to value. (Daily Energy Insider)

EFFICIENCY: Xcel Energy recognizes 41 companies for their energy efficiency efforts in 2020 that helped save customers $9 million in electric and natural gas costs. (Sun Post)

COMMENTARY: State and federal lawmakers need to take stronger steps to regulate oil and gas wastewater that can contain radioactive elements, clean energy advocates say. (Natural Resources Defense Council)