CLIMATE: Clean energy stocks fall as a Democratic takeover of the Senate looks increasingly unlikely, which would make sweeping climate change legislation all but impossible for at least the next two years. (Bloomberg, Greentech Media)

ALSO:
• Lobbyists believe Democrats can still make progress on clean energy by finding common ground with Republicans on business development. (E&E News)
• The Trump administration appoints a climate scientist to lead the next National Climate Assessment, partially alleviating concerns that the process will be politicized. (Washington Post)

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ELECTION 2020:
• Pennsylvania Democrats hoping to flip the state legislature to advance climate and energy legislation appear to have fallen short. (Spotlight PA)
• Two Republicans continue to hold narrow leads in the race for Arizona’s Corporation Commission, potentially putting a recently passed 100% carbon-free energy target in jeopardy. (Arizona Republic)
• The race for one of five seats on Louisiana’s utility regulation board will go to a runoff election after a two-term Republican incumbent failed to win 50% of votes. (The Advocate)
• Boulder, Colorado voters have approved a new franchise agreement with Xcel Energy, putting on hold a decade-long effort to more quickly expand clean energy by forming a local utility. (Daily Camera, news release)
• Former coal baron Don Blankenship’s presidential run netted more than 7,000 votes each in North Carolina and Michigan, though it’s not yet clear if that will tip the outcome in either state. (E&E News, subscription)

TRANSPORTATION:
• A Virginia transit agency will deploy six electric buses on one of its busiest routes as part of the state’s effort to meet climate and equity benchmarks. (Energy News Network)
• While Volkswagen settlement funds have led to notable electric vehicle projects, much of the funds have gone toward replacing older diesel engines with newer ones. (New York Times)

TRANSMISSION: The final permit is issued for a power line from Canada through Maine with the developer expecting construction to start in a few weeks. (Bangor Daily News)

OIL & GAS: Texas’ oil and gas industry contracted in September, continuing a slide that began in early 2019 and escalated with the pandemic. (Natural Gas Intelligence)

PIPELINES: Attorneys for the Army Corps of Engineers argue in federal appeals court that an earlier ruling shutting down a portion of the Dakota Access pipeline ignored the “low risk of a spill” from the project. (Bismarck Tribune)

COAL: Entergy Arkansas still plans to close two coal-fired power plants amid reports that the state of Wyoming funded “dark money” groups in an attempt to halt the closures. (Arkansas Business)

NUCLEAR:
• Exelon confirms it is exploring separating its nuclear plants from its utility businesses. (Greentech Media)
• Eight of 36 public utilities originally committed to a small modular reactor planned for Idaho have backed out; a project spokesperson says it is still going forward. (Science Magazine)

UTILITIES:
• A Colorado electricity provider isn’t walking away from its battle to leave Tri-State Generation and Transmission, despite state regulators dismissing a complaint. (Brighton Standard Blade)
• Ohio regulators seek an independent third-party auditor to review FirstEnergy’s corporate separation during the period leading up to the passage of the state’s power plant bailout law. (Akron Beacon Journal)

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EQUITY: EPA lawyers push back on a Trump administration effort to ban diversity training, saying “the federal government is supposed to serve as the model workplace for the country.” (The Hill)

COMMENTARY:
• An environmentalist says New Jersey can have clean energy development and also protect its farmland. (NJ.com)
• The Rocky Mountain Institute advocates for building electrification, saying  renewable natural gas is not feasible or cost-effective for decarbonizing the buildings sector. (GreenBiz)

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.