OHIO: Amid debate over the state’s energy laws, Ohio officials hid from the public a state-funded report showing 31,000 clean energy jobs in 2012. (Columbus Dispatch)

WISCONSIN: In the second of three cases, Wisconsin regulators approve an increase in fixed charges for We Energies, a decision one solar executive says will “tax rooftop solar companies out of business.” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

SOLAR: Why the community solar business is about to take off in Minnesota, and a global solar company is expanding to Kansas City. (Midwest Energy News, Associated Press)

COAL: Utilities in Minnesota, Missouri and elsewhere are increasingly concerned about coal stockpiles, raising concerns that plants could shut down if coal deliveries are further disrupted. (Minneapolis Star Tribune, St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

ALSO: Illinois officials say it’s unlikely there will be adverse effects from an expanded coal waste site. (Springfield State Journal-Register)

OIL: North Dakota will require oil to be made less volatile before shipping, producers are flaring a smaller percentage of natural gas, and the town of Casselton sees its second oil train derailment in less than a year. (Wall Street Journal, Bismarck Tribune, McClatchy)

KEYSTONE XL: The U.S. House votes to direct approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, the Senate will vote on the measure Tuesday, President Obama is likely to veto. (New York Times, Washington Post)

MEANWHILE: Regardless of what happens in Congress, the pipeline’s fate could ultimately be decided by a Nebraska regulatory commission. (Associated Press)

ETHANOL: A Michigan study credits ethanol with cutting greenhouse gases. (Michigan Radio)

POLLUTION: Michigan manufacturers claim EPA ozone standards will cost the state 83,000 jobs. (MLive)

ELECTRIC CARS: After years of delays, charging stations are rolling out in Chicago. (Chicago Tribune)

NUCLEAR: An Ohio nuclear plant is operating again after shutting down due to a cooling system failure. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

WASTE-TO-ENERGY: State officials cite a Madison sewage plant’s biogas project with 32 air pollution violations. (Wisconsin State Journal)

CLIMATE: GM buys carbon offsets from a North Dakota grassland. (Detroit News)

TRANSMISSION: Advocates and opponents debate the merits of a proposed Wisconsin transmission line. (La Crosse Tribune)

COMMENTARY: Ohio’s “shortsighted” approach to clean energy makes renewal of the wind production tax credit more important. (Toledo Blade)

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.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.