OHIO: Advocates in Ohio say the $60 million bribery scandal over HB 6 is just the latest manifestation of a years-long effort to prevent the growth of renewable energy in the state. (Energy News Network)
ALSO:
• Gov. Mike DeWine shifts course and calls for HB 6 to be repealed and replaced through a process the “public can have full confidence in.” (Toledo Blade)
• FirstEnergy CEO Charles Jones, whose role in the controversy is unclear, says in a quarterly earnings call that the company “acted ethically” in connection to the legislation. (E&E News, Cleveland.com)
***SPONSORED LINK: The Cleanie Awards — the #1 awards program in clean technology — is now accepting applications! Submit to win, or contact us with any questions. Applications close July 30.***
UTILITIES:
• During ComEd’s eight-year bribery scheme in Illinois, the amount of state-approved revenue the utility collected to deliver power increased more than 30%, according to an analysis. (WBEZ)
• A former executive for South Carolina utility SCANA pleads guilty in federal court to defrauding customers and lying about nuclear plant construction progress. (Post and Courier)
• Following the defeat of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, Dominion CEO Thomas Farrell’s history of conflict with Black communities — and celebrating the Confederacy — is under increased scrutiny. (HuffPost)
NUCLEAR: The EPA announces an agreement that will boost uranium production in Wyoming by removing hurdles for a mining process that advocates warn increases pollution and strains scarce water resources. (Casper Star Tribune)
COAL:
• Virginia could be on the hook for millions of dollars in mine cleanup costs if more bankruptcies destabilize its bond pool system — a problem the state has known about for decades. (Virginia Mercury)
• Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois proposes a plan to help transition coal-reliant communities that includes expanding Medicare to laid-off coal workers and guaranteeing free higher education to miners and their families. (Reuters)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Tesla picks a site near Austin, Texas, to build its largest electric car and truck assembly plant, expected to employ at least 5,000 workers. (Associated Press)
MICROGRIDS: A Massachusetts program is helping communities develop microgrids to improve resiliency and cut carbon emissions. (Energy News Network)
OIL & GAS: A major natural gas project slated to be built in a mostly Black community in eastern Virginia is put on hold by state regulators due to funding and environmental justice concerns. (E&E News)
***SPONSORED LINK: Register today for Veterans Advanced Energy Week, August 10-13, a virtual learning experience dedicated to military veterans and spouses in advanced energy and national security. Learn more at www.vetsenergyproject.org/. ***
POLITICS:
• A draft of the Democratic National Committee’s climate platform calls for net zero emissions by 2050. (The Hill)
• Republican senators in tight re-election campaigns are calling for more support for clean energy in coronavirus relief legislation. (Roll Call)
COMMENTARY:
• A utility watchdog group says Ohio is the “latest example of monopoly utility companies deceiving lawmakers, regulators, and the public to enrich executives and shareholders. (Energy and Policy Institute)
• An environmental writer says more information is needed to know whether a plan to create jobs by plugging oil wells will live up to expectations. (Grist)
• A law school director says turning the notorious Rikers Island jail in New York City into a sustainable energy center is a way to advance racial justice. (Gizmodo)