DOE turns to Illinois for low-income community solar pilot

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)

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)