Wisconsin advocates push against utility profits from coal plant closures; Ohio considers oil exploration in state parks.

Consumer advocates in Wisconsin have argued that utilities should not profit from shuttered coal plants and have called for state regulators to use financing tools like securitization to limit ratepayer impacts. An Ohio panel will decide this week whether to open thousands of acres of state parks for oil and gas exploration. Critics of a bill to lift Illinois’ 35-year ban on new nuclear plant construction argue that the plan is based on speculative technology. The latest National Climate Assessment highlights the disproportionate effects of climate change on low-income families and communities of color. Honda has committed $15 million to a partnership with Ohio State University to build a new battery cell center. The U.S. Green Buildings Council designates Dayton, Ohio, as the only city in the state with LEED Platinum status.