RENEWABLES: Thirty-four Indiana counties have local ordinances restricting or even prohibiting wind and solar projects, which some state lawmakers hope to resolve by approving consistent statewide siting standards. (Indianapolis Star)
ALSO: More than 100 cities, counties and states across the U.S. have enacted ordinances restricting renewable energy projects, which could impede 100% clean energy targets, according to a Columbia Law School analysis. (E&E News, subscription)
OHIO:
• State House lawmakers are expected to vote today on repealing part of the scandal-trained HB 6 law that provides $1 billion in subsidies for two nuclear plants. (Cincinnati Enquirer)
• Ohio regulators will consider expanding their audit of FirstEnergy to examine additional questionable costs and a $4 million payment to an entity tied to former PUCO Chairman Sam Randazzo. (Cleveland.com)
• FirstEnergy cut ties with three more statehouse lobbyists last month as the company continues to cooperate with a public corruption investigation. (Dayton.com)
SOLAR:
• Developers continue to meet with local residents over plans for a 375 MW solar project near Madison, Wisconsin. (News & Independent)
• Local officials consider a developer’s request to make special payments to local schools instead of taxes as part of a planned 1,410-acre solar project in northwestern Ohio. (LimaOhio.com)
PIPELINES:
• It remains unclear whether the Biden administration will intervene and attempt to shut down the Dakota Access pipeline after continued pressure from environmental and Indigenous groups. (Inforum)
• Canadian taxpayers will be on the hook for up to $1.3 billion in costs related to the now-defunct Keystone XL pipeline, officials say. (Canadian Press)
WIND:
• A regional electric cooperative signs a 20-year agreement to purchase power from a planned 44 MW wind project in western Illinois. (Journal Courier)
• North Dakota lawmakers pass a bill that would allow state regulators to waive requirements that wind projects install technology that mitigate blinking red lights on turbines. (Bismarck Tribune)
CARBON CAPTURE: A $2 billion pipeline project would carry carbon dioxide from Midwest ethanol plants to a site in North Dakota where it would be stored underground. (Grist)
NUCLEAR: A Nebraska engineering research team is developing a new barrier material that could make deep geological disposal of spent nuclear fuel safer. (Nebraska Today)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm says the U.S. needs to boost domestic production of minerals used to make electric vehicles if it can be done sustainably. (Reuters)
UTILITIES: Kansas regulators will open seven investigations into utility company practices as the fallout from last month’s cold weather and rolling blackouts continues. (KSHB)
COAL: The remaining portions of a former Dynegy coal plant in southern Illinois are set to be demolished over the weekend. (Alton Telegraph)