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)