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)

Andy compiles the Midwest Energy News digest and was a journalism fellow for Midwest Energy News from 2014-2020. He is managing editor of MiBiz in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and was formerly a reporter and editor at City Pulse, Lansing’s alternative newsweekly.

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