Minnesota highway projects must now consider climate impacts

OHIO:

• An indicted FirstEnergy executive plans to call Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted as witnesses in his criminal trial over corruption, bribery and money laundering charges. (Ohio Capital Journal)
• Ohio Republicans are drafting legislation targeting dark money that would require greater campaign finance disclosure as the major utility bribery scandal reaches DeWine. (Ohio Capital Journal)

RENEWABLES:

• University of Wisconsin researchers have mapped millions of acres of abandoned U.S. farmland that could potentially be reused for renewable energy projects. (Journal Sentinel)
• Michigan regulators plan to release final draft regulations today for the state’s new renewable energy siting law that gives the state more oversight of large-scale projects. (MLive)

GRID:

• Michigan ratepayer advocates say a proposal to fine utilities up to $10 million for failing to meet reliability standards, and incentivizing better performance, would have little impact on overall grid reliability. (Planet Detroit)
• Large tech companies are betting on unproven clean energy technologies to power a surge in demand from data centers and AI, which critics say is already increasing reliance on fossil fuels. (Washington Post)

SOLAR:

• Ohio local governments have racked up more than $200,000 in legal costs attempting to block a proposed utility-scale solar project. (Dayton Daily News)
• Michigan lawmakers send a bill to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that would prevent homeowners’ associations from prohibiting solar panels, electric vehicle hookups and other energy-saving equipment on homes. (Crain’s Detroit Business, subscription)
• Solar developers and manufacturers take steps to limit potential damage from hailstorms, including with panels that can turn to avoid direct hits. (Inside Climate News)

COMMENTARY:

• Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is either deeply involved in the House Bill 6 bribery scandal or is ​“so wildly incompetent he let it all happen right under his nose without suspecting a thing,” an editor writes. (Ohio Capital Journal)
• A Wisconsin farmer and advocate for corn growers criticizes electric vehicle targets that he says ignores the ethanol industry. (Capital Times)