PIPELINES: Enbridge will save nearly $1 billion by leaving its old, decommissioned Line 3 pipeline in the ground, but environmental groups and landowners say the move risks future contamination and a missed opportunity for jobs. (Minnesota Reformer)

OHIO: A federal judge certifies a request by FirstEnergy ratepayers to sue the utility under a class action suit over surcharges paid to support uneconomic nuclear plants. (Reuters)

SOLAR:
• County officials in central Illinois approve what would be the state’s largest solar project at 592 MW. (WICS)
• Black Hills Energy makes its first large-scale solar investment in an 80 MW project under construction in western South Dakota. (South Dakota Public Broadcasting)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Shares of electric vehicle startup Rivian soared more than 50% on the company’s first day of trading on the stock market, leading to a roughly $90 billion market value that’s bigger than Ford and GM. (Detroit Free Press)

WIND:
• A wind project developer approaches a central Wisconsin community about leasing roughly 170 acres for a transmission line. (Star News)
• Similarly worded zoning ordinances that restrict wind energy development are spreading in rural Michigan townships. (Checks and Balances Project)
• A developer and county officials negotiate potential payments that would replace taxes from a planned 200 MW wind project in northern Kansas. (Blade-Empire)

TRANSMISSION: Federal and state energy regulators discuss potential ways to unlock transmission development to help move vast amounts of renewable energy across the country. (E&E News)

UTILITIES:
• More than $200 million in relief funding is still available to help Illinois low-income households pay utility bills. (WAND)
• Kansas regulators will allow Black Hills Energy to recoup nearly $88 million in costs tied to excessive natural gas prices during a cold weather streak in February. (Kansas Reflector)

BIOFUELS: U.S. oil refiners are taking positions on the biofuel credit market that could force them to close plants or fire union workers if President Biden doesn’t scale back federal biofuel blending requirements. (Reuters)

COMMENTARY: A Nebraska climate activist says a statewide renewable portfolio standard, net metering and community-owned wind energy would deliver climate and economic benefits to the state. (Lincoln Journal Star)