POLITICS: Ohio’s secretary of state has recently spoken out about the need to prevent legislative corruption but has also yet to produce any evidence that he pushed back against the HB 6 bribery scheme as it was unfolding. (Ohio Capital Journal)
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: Environmental groups and legal experts raise concerns about what an expanded federal rural clean energy program will mean for environmental justice communities. (E&E News)
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SOLAR:
• Several large solar projects proposed in southwestern Ohio divide landowners over whether they should lease land for the projects or keep it exclusively agricultural. (WCPO)
• Indiana experienced a steep decline in utility-scale solar installations in 2022 from the prior year, likely because of interconnection delays. (WFYI)
• Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is expected to sign legislation today that would allow solar developers to make direct payments to local governments instead of property taxes, which backers say provides certainty for both companies and municipalities. (Crain’s Detroit Business, subscription)
CARBON CAPTURE: County officials and attorneys representing South Dakota landowners question the economic benefits of a proposed carbon capture pipeline project. (South Dakota Searchlight)
CLIMATE:
• Chicago has more residents living in urban heat islands than any other U.S. city, according to a Climate Central analysis. (Inside Climate News)
• States are redirecting hundreds of millions of dollars in federal climate funding from the 2021 infrastructure law to unrelated projects. (Washington Post)
• U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan says most Americans are unaware of the climate provisions in the landmark Inflation Reduction Act, which could constrain its success. (E&E News, subscription)
WIND:
• Northwestern Iowa residents call on county officials to adopt a moratorium on wind development so they can craft new regulations. (Radio Iowa)
• A developer is in the early stages of proposing a utility-scale wind project in southeastern Iowa. (Southeast Iowa Union)
BIOFUELS: An Iowa board approves $1.6 million in funding to build out ethanol and biodiesel infrastructure across the state. (CBS 2)
COMMENTARY:
• The head of a trade group representing Minnesota electric cooperatives says the state’s new carbon-free power targets can’t jeopardize affordability and reliability. (Star Tribune)
• An Illinois editorial board says state regulators need to thoroughly examine public safety considerations as they consider carbon pipeline permit requests. (Chicago Sun-Times)
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