ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Amendments to an electric vehicle charging station bill in Wisconsin have turned clean energy advocates against it while highlighting a broader debate over who will control and profit most from the transition to electric vehicles. (Energy News Network)
ALSO:
• Kansas City utility Evergy plans to launch an electric vehicle rebate program that would help defer costs for residential charging stations. (Missouri Times)
• Iowa is set to receive more than $51 million in federal funding as part of a nationwide effort to deploy electric vehicle charging stations. (KCCI)
UTILITIES:
• Duke Energy plans to spend $130 billion to double its renewable capacity by 2030 and close its remaining coal plants, including four in the Midwest, by 2035. (E&E News)
• Still embroiled in a lobbying scandal, FirstEnergy reports net earnings of $1.3 billion in 2021, which is up from $1.1 billion in 2020. (Cleveland.com)
• The Illinois attorney general and the city of Chicago urge state regulators to increase ratepayer refunds linked to ComEd’s bribery scandal to nearly $50 million. (Crain’s Chicago Business)
OHIO:
• Gov. Mike DeWine reappoints an incumbent utility regulator to a five-year term, saying it doesn’t undercut a previous pledge to not appoint someone with ties to the energy and utility industry. (Ohio Capital Journal)
• A Democratic candidate for Ohio attorney general denounces ongoing coal plant subsidies for FirstEnergy and calls for an expanded criminal investigation surrounding the passage of HB6. (Springfield News-Sun)
COAL: U.S. utilities are expected to retire 51,000 MW of coal through 2027 followed by a major 23,000 MW reduction in 2028. (S&P Global)
SOLAR:
• Dozens of residents begin to organize against a large-scale solar project planned in southeastern Wisconsin. (Daily Register)
• State regulators approve plans for a 108 MW solar project near Columbus, Ohio. (Farm and Dairy)
RENEWABLES: The Nature Conservancy releases a renewable energy siting map that’s meant to guide future development in a way that protects natural areas. (PV Magazine)
OIL & GAS:
• An Indiana natural gas plant that’s been shut down for more than nine months could be operational again by the end of June, according to AES Indiana. (WFYI)
• Kansas House lawmakers show near-unanimous support for investigations of potential price gouging and market manipulation of natural gas during last February’s cold weather emergency. (Kansas Reflector)
• Enbridge reports a 3.7% increase in quarterly profits as increases in fuel demand boosted transportation volumes. (Reuters)
COMMENTARY: Ohio is in a unique position to lead the electric vehicle automotive supply chain, according to a new report from clean energy advocates. (Natural Resources Defense Council)