UTILITIES: As Wisconsin utilities look to increase fixed customer charges, regulators in other states have balked at such proposals. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

FRACKING: The Ohio Supreme Court rejects efforts to put anti-fracking initiatives on November ballots, siding with election officials who said the plans didn’t provide enough guidance on how local permitting would work. (EnergyWire)

***SPONSORED LINK: Join us October 5 in Minneapolis for Trending Green: Understanding Corporate Renewable Procurement in the Midwest. Featuring keynote speaker Adam Kramer of Switch–data center provider and sustainability leader—along with other regional energy thought leaders.***

ADVOCACY:
• A new ratepayer advocacy group forms in Minnesota and begins by fighting a utility’s proposed plan that increases rates for residents and decreases rates for industry. (Midwest Energy News)
• A Wisconsin clean energy group is recognized nationally for its work fighting utility rate plans. (Wisconsin State Journal)

PIPELINES:
• A northern Michigan tribe seeks to halt a multi-million-dollar settlement between Enbridge and the U.S. EPA over the company’s 2010 Michigan oil spill and is using similar arguments made by a Sioux tribe to block Dakota Access construction. (Inside Climate News)
• Dakota Access pipeline opponents in Iowa submit petitions with 33,000 signatures to the Obama administration hoping to block the project from moving forward. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)
• More than 30 Dakota Access protesters have been arrested in North Dakota in the last two days. (Associated Press)
• A North Dakota landowner claims victory over the developers of the now-abandoned Sandpiper Pipeline. (Forum News Service)

WIND: The developer of a proposed transmission line to move wind energy from Iowa to Illinois is appealing to the Illinois Supreme Court to allow the project to move forward. (Quad-City Times)

SOLAR: A Wisconsin town moves forward with developing a solar project meant to lower the city’s electricity costs. (Washburn County Register / Inter-County Leader)

EMISSIONS: Low natural gas prices, federal tax breaks for renewables and the falling cost of wind and solar are the primary drivers of lower carbon emissions, experts say. (EnergyWire)

NUCLEAR: Nearly 30 years after it stopped generating electricity, a Wisconsin nuclear plant is entering the final stretch of decommissioning. (LaCrosse Tribune)

STORAGE: Three Midwest research projects are selected to receive millions of dollars in funding from the federal government to advance storage and fuel cell products. (Transmission & Distribution World)

POLITICS: A Republican mega-donor tries to abate attacks about the GOP’s ties to the fossil fuel industry by embracing clean energy and nuclear. (E&E Daily)

FINANCE: Another Minnesota county approves Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing for businesses to invest in efficiency and renewable energy. (Winona Daily News)

CLIMATE:
• Secretary of State John Kerry says he is “more and more confident” that the Paris climate agreement will come into force by the end of the year. (Washington Post)
• The head of a coal company appeals to industry leaders to drop attacks on climate science and focus on reducing emissions from the energy source. (SNL)
• A new poll says, on average, Americans appear willing to pay more than a robust climate policy is projected to cost. (New York Times)
• A coalition of 25 military and national security experts say climate change poses a “significant risk to US national security and international security.” (The Guardian)

***SPONSORED LINK: Support Solar in Illinois — Purchase a raffle ticket to win a 2016 Tesla Model S from the Illinois Solar Energy Association! One ticket for $100, 4 for $300. Only 2,500 tickets will be sold!***

BIOFUELS: Ethanol is shipped by rail in greater quantities than crude oil yet has seen fewer accidents. (DeSmog)

COMMENTARY:
• The rapid expansion of clean energy shows that Clean Power Plan targets are “eminently achievable.” (Environmental Defense Fund)
• Investing in renewable energy will “further drive Wisconsin jobs and economic development.” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)