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CALIFORNIA: State lawmakers haven’t figured out how to spend nearly $1 billion in revenue from the state’s cap-and-trade program. (Sacramento Business Journal)

SOLAR:
• A solar executive says working with utilities and being “a good citizen of the grid” will be key to his company’s success. (Utility Dive)
• Customers of a Michigan cooperative feel the “carpet ripped out” from under them as the member-regulated utility makes changes to its program. (Midwest Energy News)
• Developers are looking to build a 7 MW solar storage project in Ohio that they believe would be the largest of its kind. (Utility Dive)
• Missoula, Montana hires a solar consultant as it works to become carbon-neutral by 2025. (Missoulian)

CLEAN ENERGY:
• Under an agreement with Sacramento’s utility, 23 state office buildings will run on 100 percent renewable power. (Sacramento Bee)
• A historic ranch in Yellowstone National Park will soon be powered by wind, solar, hydropower and a bank of discarded hybrid car batteries. (Montana Standard)

WIND: North Carolina is one step closer to offshore wind turbines. (WUNC Public Radio)

FRACKING:
• Documents reveal a partnership between the University of Colorado and industry groups to promote drilling. (Huffington Post)
• Fracking opponents pack public hearings in Pennsylvania. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

OIL:
• A U.S. House committee passes a bill to allow crude oil exports, but the legislation faces an uphill battle in the Senate. (Reuters)
• A Los Angeles oil field is closer to reopening after its operator pays $144,250 to settle air quality violations. (Los Angeles Times)

COAL:
• A Wyoming coal company questions the methodology of a study finding the U.S. should be taking in more revenue from leasing public lands. (Wyoming Business Report)
• A power plant in West Virginia aims to become one of the cleanest and most efficient coal-burners in the region. (SNL)

EFFICIENCY: Portland, Oregon is “ground zero” for the passive house movement in America. (Politico)

COMMENTARY: How inefficient climate policies can pave the way for better ones. (Vox)

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.

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