UTILITIES: Ohio officials involved in passing the $1 billion nuclear bailout scheme, now at the center of a federal racketeering investigation, face a reckoning that could upend the state’s political landscape. (Associated Press)

ALSO:
• The scandal could also shift energy policy in the Ohio Valley, where coal and nuclear plant operators continue to struggle against natural gas. (Ohio Valley Resource)
• The recent bribery scandals unfolding in Ohio and Illinois illustrate how utilities routinely use power to shield themselves from business risk. (InsideClimate News)
• A nonprofit funded solely by American Electric Power contributed $350,000 to advocacy campaigns that promoted Ohio’s nuclear bailout law. (Columbus Dispatch)
• Nonprofit groups that rely on “dark money” contributions that are difficult to trace fuel political bribery scandals, experts say. (Columbus Dispatch)

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EFFICIENCY: An Illinois program to help older residents install energy efficient technology and provide job training for young adults will operate virtually until a new launch date in January. (Energy News Network)

WIND: Invenergy discusses plans for a 68-turbine wind project in central Illinois that could be operational in 2022. (Bloomington Pantagraph)

CLEAN TECH: Illinois regulators reject a proposal that would have allowed utilities’ partial cost recovery for cloud-based data processing as smart grid infrastructure is built out. (Utility Dive)

COAL: Previous alliances between the coal mining industry and coal-burning utilities are beginning to diverge. (New Republic)

PIPELINES: Advocates say recent court decisions involving major pipeline projects ultimately make it more difficult for the Trump administration to achieve U.S. energy dominance goals. (Allegheny Front)

RENEWABLES: Grid operator MISO predicts energy prices could jump at certain times with a 50% renewable energy mix powering the grid. (RTO Insider, subscription) 

SOLAR: A Wisconsin nonprofit seeks to save ratepayers money by expanding solar installations. (WJFW)

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OIL & GAS: Local officials in western North Dakota discuss the “fragile balance” of economic development and community growth with fluctuating oil revenue. (E&E News, subscription)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: General Motors previews plans to launch a full-size electric pickup truck with 400-plus miles of range. (Business Insider)