SOLAR: Illinois is one of five states where the U.S. Department of Energy is piloting a program to expand community solar to low-income households by linking it to an existing energy assistance program. (Energy News Network)
OHIO:
• The state’s consumer advocate says Ohio residents face “more unwelcome delay” in getting details about the HB6 corruption scandal as federal prosecutors ask state regulators to pause their investigations. (Energy News Network/Eye on Ohio)
• Ohio ratepayers have paid $173 million to cover losses from utilities’ investments in two coal plants since 2020 based on provisions in the scandal-ridden HB 6. (Ohio Capital Journal)
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ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Racine, Wisconsin, is awarded $3.8 million in federal funding to purchase four electric buses. (Journal Times)
• Automakers announce plans to start replacing gas-powered muscle cars with electric models. (Associated Press)
COAL: Ameren Missouri plans to restart natural gas turbines to offset the generation loss from a major coal plant it was ordered to close in early 2024. (Missouri Independent)
WIND: Iowa regulators are set to close their investigation into the disposal of old wind turbines now that a prominent blade stockpile has been removed and other state officials are monitoring the situation. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)
TRANSPORTATION: A southeastern Michigan advanced mobility research center aims to become a hub for producing hydrogen transportation fuels. (Crain’s Detroit Business)
UTILITIES:
• Illinois regulators approve a plan for ComEd to issue $38 million in customer rebates in the wake of a bribery scheme that involved high-level utility and elected officials. (NBC Chicago)
• Wisconsin consumer advocates are building opposition to We Energies’ proposed 8% rate increase. (WUWM)
BIOFUELS:
• Ethanol advocates applaud provisions in the federal Inflation Reduction Act that invest millions of dollars to help equip gas stations to sell more gasoline blended with ethanol. (KARK)
• A major expansion of tax credits in the federal law for companies that capture and store carbon also could benefit the ethanol industry if carbon pipeline projects move forward. (Reuters)
COMMENTARY:
• Top Ohio officials’ attempts to downplay their roles in the HB 6 scandal “insult the public’s intelligence” about the scope of the alleged corruption surrounding the law, an Ohio editor writes. (Ohio Capital Journal)
• Two Illinois lawmakers say the state should be a leader in Great Lakes offshore wind energy to protect against volatile oil and gas prices. (Chicago Tribune)
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