PIPELINES: An amendment to a Wisconsin budget bill, inserted anonymously, would exempt Enbridge Energy from an insurance requirement imposed by a county along a proposed pipeline route. (Wisconsin State Journal)

CLEAN POWER PLAN:
• Some Republican governors — including Scott Walker of Wisconsin and Mike Pence of Indiana — say they may refuse to carry out EPA climate rules in their states. (New York Times)
• Carbon rules will have major implications in coal dependent and politically important Ohio. (Toledo Blade)

***SPONSORED LINK: The Illinois Renewable Energy Conference, July 16 in Normal, Illinois, will feature plenary sessions of interest to all areas of renewable energy, plus specific breakout sessions for wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, and energy efficiency.***

POLLUTION: A multi-state commission proposes relaxing mercury standards for the Ohio River. (Columbus Dispatch)

SOLAR:
• A Missouri utility plans a 15 MW solar array along one of the state’s busiest interstate highways: “you will not miss it in either direction.” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
• A Minnesota rural co-op unveils its new solar array. (Mille Lacs Messenger)

TRANSPORTATION:
• An Ohio symposium seeks to expand markets for fuel cell technology. (Midwest Energy News)
• A Wisconsin company that specializes in hybrid drivetrains for trucks could see a boost from new fuel efficiency rules. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

FRACKING:
• A court rejects an Ohio group’s lawsuit claiming a local ordinance supersedes state law on drilling. (Columbus Dispatch)
• Undeterred by recent court rulings, a Columbus group continues to pursue a local drilling ban. (Columbus Dispatch)
• An Ohio county will seek a moratorium on injection wells. (Athens News)

NATURAL GAS: A Minnesota utility, once 95 percent dependent on coal, unveils its first natural gas plant. (Minnesota Public Radio)

TRANSMISSION: Developers of the Grain Belt Express transmission project say rejection by Missouri regulators won’t impact their work in other states. (Springfield State Journal-Register)

CLIMATE: Iowa Catholic leaders urge politicians to follow the pope’s lead on climate change. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)

WIND: U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown tours an Ohio wind farm. (Lima News)

***SPONSORED LINK: Energy Transition Lab’s Energy Storage Summit, July 15 in Minneapolis, will bring together industry, academia and public leaders to develop a shared vision for energy storage in Minnesota. Registration is free and open to the public but space is limited.***

EFFICIENCY: How media coverage exaggerated the findings of a recent energy efficiency report. (Utility Dive)

COMMENTARY: 
• A former Wisconsin regulator defends rate increases for solar customers. (Stevens Point Journal)
• The Supreme Court’s ruling on mercury regulations highlights the need for a clean energy bill in Illinois; and is “a reprieve, not a pardon” for coal-dependent Indiana. (Chicago Sun-Times, Indianapolis Star)