FirstEnergy CEO kept millions despite corruption scandal

UTILITIES: FirstEnergy’s board allowed former CEO Chuck Jones to keep tens of millions of dollars in earnings as the utility engaged in a pay-to-play scheme with lawmakers, newly revealed documents show. (Ohio Capital Journal)

PIPELINES:
• An Indigenous-led advocacy group calls on Minnesota officials to drop charges against hundreds of activists arrested during last year’s Line 3 protests. (KVRR)
• A developer says roughly 30% of the land needed to build a multi-state carbon capture pipeline has been acquired through voluntary easements. (KMALand)

SOLAR:
• Nebraska’s largest solar project is an 8.5 MW community solar installation that is already fully subscribed and set to come online in a few weeks. (Omaha World-Herald)
• The Chicago Urban League completes a rooftop and carport solar installation at its headquarters on the city’s south side. (PV Magazine)
• Illinois organizations look to scale up solar workforce training programs to help the state achieve expanded renewable energy targets in the coming years. (Daily Herald)

WIND:
• A northern Iowa county adopts new wind setback distances that will allow a roughly 50-turbine project to move forward. (KCAU)
• Rivian seeks local approval to install a wind turbine to help power its electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Illinois. (Heart of Illinois)
• Northeastern Kansas county officials consider a wind energy development moratorium as local zoning regulations are crafted. (News-Press)
• A developer breaks ground on a 110 MW wind project in southwestern Minnesota. (Renewable Energy World)

CLIMATE: A northeastern Iowa city cancels funding and then declines to adopt a citywide climate resilience plan that focused on energy and mobility. (The Courier)

GRID:
• Capacity prices in most of grid operator PJM’s territory fell to a 10-year low amid a surge in power generation. (Utility Dive)
• Grid operator MISO issues a hot weather alert for its entire territory until Friday, asking utilities to delay discretionary maintenance and prepare emergency resources. (KSTP)
• An Illinois electric cooperative warns members of potential rolling blackouts this summer amid high temperatures and high demand for energy. (WSIL)

COMMENTARY: Reducing large commercial and residential buildings’ energy usage is a key first step cities can take to reduce their carbon emissions, says an analyst with a clean energy advisory firm. (Energy News Network)