OHIO: State Republican lawmakers introduce sweeping new disclosure requirements to help erase “dark money” political spending in the wake of the HB 6 corruption scandal. (Cleveland.com)
ALSO: Critics of HB 6 are growing frustrated with the process involving hearings to repeal the law, while a top Republican says doing so in a “hasty and reckless manner is totally inappropriate.” (WOSU)
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ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Michigan auto dealers are attempting to block electric vehicle startups like Rivian and Lucid from selling vehicles directly to consumers and servicing them in the state as Tesla was allowed to do under a recent agreement. (Bloomberg)
• The founder of EV startup Nikola resigns amid fraud allegations and just two weeks after signing a $2 billion partnership with General Motors. (Associated Press)
WIND: Developers of two planned wind projects in central Illinois say securing lease agreements and local permits will take several years. (Journal Gazette & Times-Courier)
UTILITIES:
• An Illinois utility watchdog faces questions and criticism for taking money from utility-funded foundations but denies a conflict of interest. (WBEZ)
• A northern Michigan municipal utility is the first in the nation to receive a USDA loan for on-bill financing. (Traverse City Record-Eagle)
COAL: General Electric plans to stop building new coal-fired power plants as it focuses more on renewable generation. (Reuters)
TRANSMISSION: An official with grid operator MISO says attitudes are shifting and support is growing for transmission projects that will help meet renewable generation growth. (RTO Insider, subscription)
SOLAR:
• Construction begins on a 1,200-acre solar project in mid-Michigan that will be the largest in the state. (WEYI)
• Northeastern Nebraska officials replace an existing agreement with the Nebraska Public Power District with a 30-year solar power purchase agreement. (Norfolk Daily News)
FRAC SAND: A Wisconsin judge declines to reinstate a key permit to build a controversial frac sand mining operation. (Wisconsin State Journal)
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POLITICS: Ethanol waivers become a central campaign issue as President Trump and Joe Biden seek support among farmers in states like Minnesota and Iowa. (Star Tribune)
COMMENTARY: A plan to retrofit an aging coal plant with “unproven carbon capture and storage technology” will likely raise costs for ratepayers, according to clean energy analysts. (Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis)