Local
Ohio ratepayers’ summer electric bills could top $800, report says
A Third Way report blames Trump administration policies for blocking clean energy while propping up coal, as Ohioans face 17% bill increases amid a $1 billion utility scandal.
Energy
Local
New Ohio bill could hamstring big wind and solar farms even more
Senate Bill 294, backed by fossil fuel groups, would require solar and wind projects to prove 50% reliability, a standard solar advocates say is unachievable and would block projects the state already favors less than gas and nuclear.
National News
As Trump buyouts shake offshore wind industry, states hope developers stay in the game
Trump's $2.5 billion in buyout deals to kill offshore wind projects threaten state climate goals, prompting seven states to sue over what they call illegal lease cancellations.
Local
FirstEnergy bribery scandal haunts Jon Husted's Senate race as Ohio ratepayers keep paying
Husted testified as a defense witness in the bribery trial this spring, as Ohio ratepayers continue paying hundreds of millions for the bailout he championed.
National News
A sweaty Fourth of July ahead for the US as extreme heat descends on 20 states
Heat index could reach 115 degrees across 20 states this Fourth of July weekend, affecting over 200 million people amid major celebrations and travel.
Local
Ohio Supreme Court upholds utility commission decision allowing coal plant bailout fee
The court rejected arguments from manufacturers and environmental groups that utilities overcharged customers $115 million for unprofitable coal plants.
National News
PJM gets green light to push data centers onto back-up power during heat wave
The emergency orders also allow power plants to exceed pollution limits through July 3 as demand is expected to set a new grid record.
Local
More than 15,000 acres of Ohio public land approved to be fracked by out-of-state companies
Gov. DeWine just signed a bill to speed up fracking approvals on state parks, as the commission approved $241 million in bids from Texas and Oklahoma companies.
Local
Citizens Utility Board of Ohio questions programs that keep aging power plants running
The report says cost-recovery programs hide inefficiency from consumers, but PJM defends them as necessary for grid reliability amid data center growth.
Local
Ohio officials to vote on opening 23,000 acres of public lands to fracking
State officials are scheduled to vote Monday to open or select a winning bid on about 23,000 acres of publicly owned wildlife preserves. This would significantly expand oil and gas exploration on Ohio’s public lands.
Local
Legal protections for submetered renters saved by DeWine veto
Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed legislation that would have rolled back a new legal protection extended to renters at “submetered” apartments.
Local
Ohio Democrats urge Gov. DeWine to veto submetering bill
Seven Ohio Senate Democrats joined House members in the veto push, citing a unanimous Supreme Court ruling last month that submetering firms must be regulated as utilities.
