Ohio governor candidates debate renewables, HB6 scandal

POLITICS: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Democratic challenger Nan Whaley debate renewable energy and the ongoing HB 6 corruption scandal during an editorial board’s candidate forum. (Cleveland.com)

ALSO:
• Some of the 13 recommendations by an Indiana energy task force could lead to proposed legislation early next year. (Lebanon Reporter)
• Environmental groups say Democrats should be doing more ahead of the Nov. 8 Midterm elections to advertise the passage of a federal climate bill. (Grist)

SOLAR:
• Wisconsin utility We Energies seeks to expand a pilot program that leases rooftops and vacant land from schools, businesses and nonprofits for solar projects. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, subscription)
• Iowa regulators approve permits for a pair of adjacent solar projects that would produce up to 250 MW of power combined. (Clinton Herald)

CLEAN ENERGY: A northwestern Wisconsin city completes the first phase of an energy action plan to begin reducing emissions under a 100% carbon-free electricity goal for 2050. (La Crosse Tribune)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Chicago Public Schools will purchase 10 electric vehicles for drivers education classes. (CBS Chicago)

NUCLEAR: Experts on a Purdue University panel say supportive policies and an adequate workforce are both key to ensuring a future U.S. nuclear power sector. (Journal & Courier)

COAL: A Wisconsin county receives a $10 million federal grant toward the redevelopment of a former Green Bay coal plant into a state-of-the-art port facility. (WBAY)

CLIMATE:
• A new mapping tool helps cities determine whether climate change had a detectable influence on temperature fluctuations on any given day. (Inside Climate News)
• Dozens of Ohio State University students lead a protest calling on administrators to divest from fossil fuel companies. (WCMH)

EFFICIENCY:
• A northeastern Ohio city considers replacing all city street lights with LEDs to potentially save hundreds of thousands of dollars per year in electricity costs. (Tribune Chronicle)
• Lincoln, Nebraska is in the process of replacing hundreds of defective LED streetlights that were installed as part of the city’s effort to reduce electricity costs. (Lincoln Journal Star)

PIPELINES: A federal district court judge denies a motion from the federal government seeking to limit the scope of a lawsuit filed by North Dakota related to security costs of Dakota Access pipeline protests. (Center Square)

OIL & GAS: South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem signs an executive order waiving federal restrictions on the delivery of certain fuels while declaring a state of emergency for gas supply shortages. (Sioux Falls Argus Leader)

COMMENTARY: Public acceptance and knowing how to safely deploy it are two major barriers to the widespread deployment of ​“green” hydrogen, writes the head of the Wisconsin Technology Council. (Wisconsin State Journal)