COAL: Wyoming embarks on its “moon shot” to save the state’s coal industry – a $21 million carbon-capture research facility near Gillette. (Casper Star-Tribune)

CLEAN POWER PLAN: The Supreme Court’s stay of the rules in February has not deterred states from moving forward with carbon-reduction strategies. (ClimateWire)

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CONGRESS: Democrats say a “poison pill” amendment related to Iran could scuttle a bipartisan energy bill. (The Hill)

CLIMATE:
• California Sen. Barbara Boxer introduces a bill that would authorize the Treasury to issue “Climate Change Bonds” to fund infrastructure projects. (Los Angeles Times)
• Stanford University, once praised by activists for divesting from coal, is criticized for not doing the same for oil and gas. (InsideClimate News)

UTILITIES:
• Income-guarantee deals for two Ohio utilities are put on hold pending approval by federal regulators, who said ratepayers are “captive” customers who would be at a disadvantage to shareholders. (Columbus Dispatch, RTO Insider)
• An Iowa rural electric co-op plans to invest in enough renewable energy credits to fully offset its use of carbon-based fuels. (Midwest Energy News)

NATURAL GAS:
• Colorado regulators reject a utility’s attempt to buy natural gas reserves in the ground as a hedge against future price increases. (Denver Business Journal)
• FERC considers allowing utilities to purchase gas pipeline capacity. (Utility Dive/RTO Insider)
• An Oklahoma man who suffered burns in a January natural gas explosion sues the utility responsible for the line for negligence. (Oklahoman)

OIL: Brine spills from oil development in western North Dakota are releasing toxins like lead into nearby waterways and soil, sometimes at excessive levels. (Associated Press)

PIPELINES:
• Developers of the Constitution pipeline say they will “pursue all available options” to challenge New York’s rejection of the project. (EnergyWire)
• Maine regulators being hearings today on whether a proposed natural gas pipeline would save money for ratepayers. (Portland Press Herald)
• A Houston-based pipeline company has withdrawn plans to move oil through 98-year-old pipelines at the bottom of a river in eastern Michigan. (Detroit Free Press)
• A U.S. House committee passes a compromise pipeline safety bill. (The Hill) 

SOLAR:
• New ballot measures in Arizona would allow utilities to charge a separate rate for solar customers, and would put companies that sell and lease panels under state oversight. (Capitol Media Services)
• Local officials reject a proposed community solar array over a capped New York landfill. (Hudson Register-Star)

HYDRO: California utilities say an “overly complex” permitting process is holding back hydropower projects. (McClatchy)

RENEWABLES:
• Oregon regulators set an aggressive timeline to take up issues related to the state’s new 50% renewable standard. (Utility Dive/Lexology)
Renewable energy generation holds potential on vast, isolated tribal lands across the country. (Greenwire)

EFFICIENCY: U.S. cars are on track to double fuel economy in 2025 compared to 2012 levels; trucks and SUVS, not so much. (Scientific American)

COMMENTARY: What can the U.S. learn from Europe about helping displaced coal miners? (High Country News)

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Ken Paulman

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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