OHIO: A jury convicts former House Speaker Larry Householder and a GOP lobbyist of taking part in a $60 million bribery scheme to pass a $1.3 billion bailout of two nuclear plants owned by a FirstEnergy subsidiary. (Cleveland.com)
ALSO:
• Experts say the case exposed the extent to which political contributions and dark money organizations influence Ohio politics. (Energy News Network / Eye on Ohio)
• Other legal experts say Householder erred in the case by testifying and opening contradictions in his testimony for prosecutors. (Cleveland.com)
• “I respect their decision but I don’t agree with it,” Householder told reporters upon leaving the courthouse. (Spectrum News)
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EFFICIENCY: Missouri lawmakers advance legislation that would place limits on residential building energy codes and potentially prohibit St. Louis-area municipalities from enforcing local ordinances. (NextSTL)
SOLAR:
• Minnesota regulators approve plans for a $256 million solar project that faces opposition from landowners for occupying prime farmland. (Star Tribune)
• Electronics manufacturer Foxconn is partnering with We Energies on a 2,000-panel solar project in Wisconsin. (Wisconsin Public Radio)
POLITICS:
• A federal judge will not allow the release of secret recordings that formed the backbone of prosecutors’ case against four people involved in an alleged corruption scheme with ComEd. (WBEZ)
• Illinois Republicans introduce legislation aimed at preventing corruption scandals similar to the case involving ComEd and former House Speaker Michael Madigan. (Center Square)
PIPELINES:
• TC Energy says Keystone pipeline oil flows will not change after federal regulators ordered the company to reduce pressure on the pipeline following a 13,000-barrel spill late last year. (Reuters)
• A Nebraska county board raises concerns about landfilling contaminated soil and other waste from the Keystone pipeline spill. (KPVI)
WIND: The operator of a 400-foot wind turbine that collapsed in Wisconsin in January has still not said what caused the incident. (Journal Sentinel)
UTILITIES: Kansas’ attorney general sues a natural gas marketing company over alleged market manipulation stemming from a February 2021 winter storm that resulted in $50 million in profit for the company. (Public Radio Tulsa)
HYDROELECTRIC: An Illinois lawmaker introduces legislation promoting hydropower as a renewable energy source. (Country Herald)
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BIOFUELS: The University of Wisconsin partners with a startup company to produce carbon-neutral synthetic diesel that’s converted from cow manure. (Badger Herald)
COMMENTARY:
• A columnist says the Ohio power plant bailout convictions are “justice at work,” but the state has work to do to address a “rampant culture of pay-to-play corruption.” (Ohio Capital Journal)
• An editorial board says Minnesota regulators should be skeptical of Xcel Energy’s proposal to charge ratepayers nearly $200 million to build an electric vehicle charging network. (Star Tribune)
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