COAL: A Minnesota economic development board plans to restructure a $9.5 million loan it made years ago for Mesabi Energy Project, a proposed coal-to-gas plant that has yet to begin construction. (Duluth News Tribune)
EFFICIENCY: A closer look at how energy efficiency scores will be incorporated into Minnesota real estate listings. (Midwest Energy News)
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OIL: The U.S. Justice Department and the state of Arkansas file a joint lawsuit against Exxon over the Mayflower pipeline spill. (Reuters)
FRAC SAND: Developers of a proposed frac sand facility voluntarily withdraw their permit and agree to alter their plans after facing strong public opposition at a Wisconsin town meeting. (Winona Daily News)
FRACKING: Local officials in Michigan raise questions about whether proper procedures and safeguards are in place after a drilling operation runs out of water and begins purchasing millions of gallons from nearby towns, more than 100 people pack a public forum on fracking in Michigan, and an Illinois landowner welcomes what could be the state’s first large-scale horizontal fracking operation. (Traverse City Record-Eagle, MLive.com, AgriNews)
NATURAL GAS: Developers of a new natural gas plant near Toledo say it could eventually double in size if demand warrants. (Toledo Blade)
GRID: Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz says he’s developing a cybersecurity council within the Department of Energy to better protect against electronic threats to infrastructure. (The Hill)
CLIMATE: Although the proposal stands little chance of advancing, a Senate panel plans to take up a carbon tax bill later this summer. (The Hill)
WIND: An Oklahoma tribe objects to plans to grant a wind farm an incidental take permit for up to three bald eagle deaths per year. (Reuters)
WASTE-TO-ENERGY: A methane burner is now up and running at the wastewater treatment plant in Winona, Minnesota, part of the town’s broader effort to reduce energy consumption. (Winona Daily News)
BIOMASS: An Ohio company says “roasting” organic materials can produce a low-emission substitute for coal. (Crain’s Cleveland Business)
TRANSPORTATION: A study finds the lifetime costs of electric cars are comparable to their gasoline counterparts. (GreenTech Media)
ETHANOL: An industry-backed study says there is no direct link between the Renewable Fuel Standard and higher food prices. (Des Moines Register)
COMMENTARY: The high cost of coal gasification, and the coming U.S. distributed solar boom. (Forbes, GreenTech Media)