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Critics question intent behind Ohio ​‘green’ nuclear bill

By Andy Balaskovitz

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Thank you for reading Midwest Energy News this past year. We’re taking a break for the holidays and will see you again on Jan. 2. 

NUCLEAR: Ohio environmental advocates fear that a bill defining nuclear energy as ​“green” could be used to water down policies and divert funding from renewable energy projects in the future. (Energy News Network)

COAL:

  • Ohio lawmakers pass a bill giving renewable energy credits to a coal-burning coke production plant, arguing that the operator sells steam from the plant to another company. (Cleveland.com)
  • The owner of a large Illinois coal plant will extend the life of the facility by two years from 2025 to 2027, citing ​“widespread concern over reliability.” (Power Engineering)

GEOTHERMAL: A Chicago nonprofit’s plan for a geothermal installation below alleyways advances to a second federal funding round that’s supporting community-led geothermal projects across the U.S. (Energy News Network)

RENEWABLES: For the first time in U.S. history, wind and solar generated more electricity than coal during the first 11 months of 2024, according to data from a clean energy think tank. (Canary Media)

GRID:

  • Illinois regulators approve a four-year, $600 million rate increase for ComEd that will fund grid infrastructure investments the utility says are needed as demand grows. (Chicago Tribune)
  • Kansas regulators say the Grain Belt Express continues to move through the permitting process after the route was removed from a list of priority corridors for U.S. transmission projects. (KSNW)

PIPELINES: Wisconsin officials continue to investigate a 1,650-barrel pipeline spill that Enbridge first reported on Nov. 11. (Wisconsin Examiner)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

SOLAR: Construction is completed on a 19.5 MW solar project at a Wisconsin steel plant, making it the largest behind-the-meter installation in the state. (Solar Power World)

BIOFUELS:

  • A company plans to build an $820 million plant in southwestern Illinois that would produce 120 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel annually. (St. Louis Public Radio)
  • A revised short-term budget proposal from U.S. House Republicans drops a provision that would allow year-round sales of E15 ethanol. (Associated Press)

COMMENTARY: An Ohio policy analyst says a state bill defining nuclear as ​“green energy” should consider whether the power source is good for the climate as well as public health. (Ohio Capital Journal)

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