CLIMATE CHANGE:
• Presidential candidates distinguish themselves on climate change positions during the first Democratic debate. (Huffington Post)
• AEP is one of 11 large international power companies to jointly issue recommendations ahead of the Paris climate summit. (Columbus Business First)

ALSO: BP’s chief economist says oil resources are unlikely to be fully exhausted due to concerns over climate change. (The Guardian)

NUCLEAR: Citing cost concerns, utility officials announce they will close a major nuclear plant in Massachusetts no later than June 2019. (Boston Globe) 

CLEAN POWER PLAN:
• Following the lead of other states, officials within PJM’s territory are discussing best ways for a collaborative approach to complying with the federal rules. (EnergyWire)
• Part of those discussions center around the importance of carbon trading for states where it might be tougher to comply. (EnergyWire)

OIL AND GAS:
• Unlike during an industry downturn in the past, many Midwest oil patch towns have diversified their economies to be attractive to non-energy businesses. (Forbes)
• An investigation shows city officials in Los Angeles set rules for oil drilling but rarely enforce them. (Los Angeles Times)
• An Oklahoma company agrees to meet with state regulators to discuss a dispute over the state’s response to earthquakes and disposal wells. (The Oklahoman)
• The backlog of oil wells drilled but not fracked in North Dakota reached an all-time high of nearly 1,000 in August. (Reuters)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Volkswagen believes turning to electric vehicles will help the company recover from last month’s emissions scandal. (Wired)

EMISSIONS: While carbon emissions are declining, overall greenhouse gas emissions — particularly methane — are increasing with more reliance on natural gas, a new study finds. (Climate Central)

TESLA: The company accuses two journalists of trespassing and attacking Tesla workers at its Nevada gigafactory. (Huffington Post)

SOLAR: The Clean Energy Collective launches a program designed for investor-owned utilities to own and rate base community arrays. (Utility Dive)

LITIGATION: A conservative appeals court judge in Washington D.C. with a harsh eye toward environmental regulations could play a central role in upcoming legal challenges to new federal rules. (Greenwire)

POLITICS: Democratic governors and climate activists are telling presidential candidates that a strong push for clean energy will win over voters. (The Hill)

REGULATION: Ohio’s EPA director says it’s a “very difficult environment” for electricity generators due to a host of new federal regulations. (Midwest Energy News)

COAL:
• Strategic investors are getting harder to come by in the industry. (Wall Street Journal)
• A major utility uses a technique to remove water from coal waste at its largest plant in Pennsylvania to help control disposal problems. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

RAIL SAFETY: Federal regulators announce new rail safety measures, including more intensive on-the-ground inspections. (Los Angeles Times)

COMMENTARY: A Sunrun executive says jobs are a big reason why Congress should extend the 30% investment tax credit beyond 2016. (Greentech Media)