POLITICS: Federal prosecutors recommend a 16-20 year prison sentence for former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder based on his role in a $61 million corruption scheme that caused “immeasurable damage to the institution of democracy in Ohio.” (Columbus Dispatch)
COAL: Environmental advocates in communities with legacy coal ash pits along Lake Michigan hope new federal cleanup rules will help prevent an environmental catastrophe. (Grist)
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RENEWABLES: Seven southwestern Ohio townships opt to ban commercial wind and solar projects amid strong pushback from local residents. (WCPO)
HYDROGEN: Indiana environmental, racial justice, and faith leaders say they are being shut out of planning discussions as a regional alliance seeks federal funding to create a Midwest hydrogen production hub. (WFYI)
SOLAR:
• New legislation in Michigan would require utilities to provide significant rebates to customers for home solar and battery systems. (Michigan Radio)
• A Wisconsin city revisits discussions about powering its wastewater treatment facility with solar, while a Michigan city receives a $1.6 million state grant to install solar and storage at a similar facility. (WSAW, 9and10 News)
• A group-buying program seeks to reduce barriers for residents looking to install solar on their central Iowa homes. (Des Moines Register)
OIL & GAS:
• An Iowa municipal utility considers plans to build a $64 million natural gas plant as a way to control costs and ensure grid reliability. (The Courier)
• An emerging market generates carbon offset credits for companies by plugging oil and gas wells. (Inside Climate News)
CLEAN ENERGY: A South Dakota nonprofit receives a $1.5 million federal grant to provide clean energy job training in Native American communities. (SDPB)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• A University of Michigan researcher finds that fully electrifying Uber and Lyft vehicles would reduce emissions but produce minimal overall benefits. (MLive)
• A metropolitan planning organization will add dozens of charging stations on both sides of the Ohio River in Cincinnati. (Cincinnati Business Courier)
• A new excise tax taking effect in Iowa on July 1 will create a second tax on electric vehicle drivers, critics say. (Electrek)
GRID:
• Experts say buy-in from local officials and residents will be key to building out transmission infrastructure to support clean energy development. (Utility Dive)
• Illinois legislative leaders consider trying to override Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s expected veto of a bill giving Ameren first rights to build transmission projects. (Crain’s Chicago Business, subscription)
WIND: An Iowa judge rejects a lawsuit from landowners challenging a county’s wind energy regulations approval process. (KMALand)
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