UTILITIES: Advocates say clamping down on “dark money” political spending is a way to prevent future scandals similar to the scheme that unfolded around Ohio’s power plant bailout law. (Eye on Ohio / Energy News Network)

ALSO:
• Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine agrees with the state attorney general’s call for FirstEnergy and Energy Harbor to open their books to determine whether two nuclear plants need a $1.3 billion bailout. (Cleveland.com)
• Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is donating nearly $25,000 in campaign contributions from FirstEnergy and an indicted lobbyist to charity. (Columbus Dispatch)

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SOLAR:
• Illinois regulators call an emergency hearing as Ameren asserts that it will soon stop compensating net metering customers at full retail rates based on the growing amount of distributed generation capacity. (Utility Dive)
• Madison Gas and Electric receives approval to build a 20 MW solar project in Dane County, Wisconsin. (WMTV)

COAL:
• Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration continues to approve coal projects despite its clean energy promises. (Chicago Tribune)
• Utility officials continue to search for a new owner for the 1,100 MW Coal Creek Station in North Dakota. (Bismarck Tribune)

TRANSMISSION: Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly touts the job creation potential of the Grain Belt Express wind energy transmission line. (Kansas Reflector)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: MidAmerican Energy looks to significantly expand its EV fast-charging sites in Iowa to 50 by the end of 2022. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)

OIL & GAS: Marathon is reducing its workforce, including nearly 300 employees at its Ohio headquarters, as gasoline demand is slow to rebound. (Toledo Blade)

NUCLEAR: Local officials say closing Illinois nuclear plants in the coming years would be “devastating” to local budgets. (Bloomberg Tax, subscription)

CLEAN ENERGY:
• The new president of Indiana utility NIPSCO says transitioning to renewable energy and engaging residents in energy efficiency will be a core process for the company. (Northwest Indiana Business Magazine)
• More commitments to net zero carbon emission targets from major utilities show the clean energy transition is accelerating. (InsideClimate News)

COMMENTARY:
• An energy aggregation proposal in Columbus, Ohio, “will set a new standard for what cities can achieve by setting aggressive renewable energy goals,” a Columbus City Council member writes. (Columbus Underground)
• Clean energy advocates say characterizing a provision in Ohio’s HB 6 as “revenue decoupling” is misleading, as the law creates an “inflated revenue guarantee.” (Natural Resources Defense Council)