PIPELINES: Experts say closing the Dakota Access pipeline would lead to a gradual increase in transporting oil by rail through North Dakota, raising concerns over safety and agricultural shipments. (Bismarck Tribune)

ALSO:
• The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe seeks to uphold a lower court ruling ordering the Dakota Access pipeline to shut down, saying its continued operation poses “catastrophic risks” to the tribe. (Bismarck Tribune)
The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision involving Native American land in eastern Oklahoma raises questions for the network of pipelines that go to and from a key oil terminal there. (Washington Post)

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CLIMATE: Researchers, advocates and some Nebraska lawmakers make a push to adopt a statewide climate action plan to prepare for more extreme weather events. (Omaha World-Herald)

COAL:
• The U.S. EPA seeks public input on a coal ash cleanup plan in northwestern Indiana, saying buried coal ash is seeping into an adjacent national park via groundwater. (Chicago Tribune)
• U.S. coal exports declined 29% in the first five months of 2020, and the downturn is expected to last through the year. (S&P Global)

UTILITIES:
Rural electric cooperatives hope to refinance federal loans without penalty as many struggle with revenue due to the pandemic. (Bismarck Tribune)
• Illinois Republicans seek to hold hearings on how and whether ComEd ratepayers were negatively affected by the utility’s bribery charges. (Crain’s Chicago Business)
• CenterPoint Energy’s new CEO says he is committed to continue growing Indiana-based Vectren, which was acquired last year. (Evansville Courier & Press)
• Ohio utilities plan to resume disconnections within the next couple of months, which critics say is too soon. (Cleveland.com)

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SOLAR:
Construction is about 20% complete on a 239 MW solar project in central Michigan, which would be the largest in the state. (Argus-Press)
• Local officials will consider reauthorizing special land use permits for a pair of eastern Illinois solar projects. (Journal Gazette & Times-Courier)

WIND:
• A recent report suggests municipalities be clear about their intentions with regulating wind energy while developers should work closely with landowners. (Pierre Capital Journal)
• WEC Energy Group continues to amass ownership in wind projects outside of its home state of Wisconsin. (S&P Global)

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.