Midwest

Utilities

Ohio’s HB 6 utility scandal gets true-crime treatment in HBO film

“The Dark Money Game: Ohio Confidential” is now streaming on MAX. A Canary Media reporter who’s spent years covering the corrupt energy legislation offers her take.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski, Dan Haugen . 24 April 2025
Clean energy

Chicago Teachers Union secures clean energy wins in new contract

The contract requires the district to update its climate action plan, create clean energy job training programs, and install more heat pumps and solar panels.

By Kari Lydersen . 21 April 2025
Utilities

Ohio grid disparities leave some areas with older, outage-prone equipment

Advocates want state utility regulators to take up the issue of grid investment disparities in FirstEnergy’s pending rate case.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski . 17 April 2025
Utilities

Wisconsin utility’s data center–driven gas expansion meets skepticism

Some of the data centers may never even materialize, sticking ratepayers with the bill for overbuilt fossil-fuel infrastructure, advocates argue.

By Kari Lydersen . 14 April 2025
Carbon capture

Ohio bills aim to sideline local critics of carbon capture projects

Some landowners could be forced to let companies inject CO2 beneath their properties, and the state would get exclusive say over project permitting.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski . 11 April 2025
Utilities

Ohio corruption scandal looms over FirstEnergy rate case

Ohio’s ongoing corruption scandal has become an issue in FirstEnergy’s ratemaking case. Meanwhile, lawmakers are also pushing bills to end coal plant subsidies and boost in-state electricity generation.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski . 9 April 2025
Electric vehicles

The bid to make Illinois a leader on electric trucking

The state is considering adopting California’s ambitious clean trucks standards even as President Trump threatens to block them.

By Kari Lydersen . 1 April 2025
Utilities

Ohio utility retracts energy-efficiency plan despite potential savings

Duke Energy Ohio’s retreat is the latest chapter in a struggle to restore utility-run energy-saving programs that were eliminated by a 2019 law.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski . 27 March 2025
Carbon-free buildings

Illinois city passes law to slash emissions from big buildings

Evanston is the latest in a growing wave of municipalities and states enacting laws to decarbonize existing buildings, a major source of planet-warming emissions.

By Akielly Hu . 27 March 2025
Nuclear

Indiana utilities want ratepayers to fork out for small nuclear reactors

State legislators are advancing bills that allow utilities to charge for the process of planning SMRs, even if the plants never get built.

By Kari Lydersen . 19 March 2025