Sam Randazzo, former head of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, has been charged with conspiracy to commit bribery, wire fraud, and other crimes linked to the ongoing corruption scandal in Ohio. The charges have sparked calls for a full regulatory review following his indictment, but it is unclear whether regulators will act soon. Critics have called for an investigation into the case, including the Environmental Law & Policy Center for the Environmental Policy and the Sierra Club, who have questioned the commission’s handling of the case. Despite his alleged involvement in helping to shape the implementation of Ohio’s coal and nuclear bailout law, House Bill 6, and assisting FirstEnergy in securing favorable regulatory treatment for the company and its utilities, Randazo has denied any wrongdoing. The PUCO has four ongoing investigations into related matters related to FirstEnergy, but all four cases have been frozen for over a year following requests by U.S. Attorney Kenneth Parker.
Solar Dominates US Energy Capacity Growth
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has published data showing that solar accounted for over 75% of US electrical generating
