As promised, here’s a wrap-up of the top stories from the past week or so for those of you who were taking time off:

  • A 41-turbine wind farm is proposed near the Minnesota-Wisconsin border.
  • A Nebraska bill in response to Keystone XL sets up a do-not-cross zone for pipelines in areas where the Ogallala Aquifer is most vulnerable, and state officials investigate conflict-of-interest questions between TransCanada and the firm hired for an environmental review of the project. (Omaha World-Herald)
  • A Reuters investigation finds that Chesapeake Energy used shell companies to buy up oil and gas leases in Michigan.
  • A wind project in central Minnesota is delayed as developers still haven’t found a buyer for the electricity. (St. Cloud Times)
  • Federal data suggest that estimates of U.S. natural gas potential may be vastly overstated. (Slate)
  • The company responsible for a gas pipeline explosion in Ohio was already under investigation for two pipeline ruptures earlier this year. (Columbus Dispatch)

    • Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy and is a founding editor of both Midwest Energy News and Southeast Energy News. Prior to joining Fresh Energy, he was the managing editor for online news at Minnesota Public Radio. He started his journalism career in 2002 as a copy editor for the Duluth News Tribune before spending five years at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, where he worked as a copy editor, online producer, features editor and night city editor. A Nebraska native, Ken has a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors.