OIL TRAINS: An analysis finds nearly 1.4 million Ohioans live within a half-mile of rail lines carrying explosive Bakken crude oil. (Columbus Dispatch)

BIOFUELS: Industry and environmental advocates reach a compromise on Minnesota legislation that critics said would encourage more corn production. (Midwest Energy News)

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EPA: Ohio regulators say they don’t want the legislature to interfere in compliance plans for the Clean Power Plan. (EnergyWire)

CLIMATE: A Minnesota lawmaker’s proposed energy bill would eliminate the state’s carbon reduction target. (Renewable + Law)

UTILITIES: FERC clears the way for Dynegy to acquire Duke Energy’s Midwest power plants. (Charlotte Business Journal)

OIL AND GAS:
• Enbridge says low oil prices won’t slow its Minnesota pipeline projects. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
• A drilling company seeks an exemption to North Dakota flaring rules until a proposed pipeline and processing plant are completed. (Bismarck Tribune)
• The impact of increased truck traffic is starting to become apparent on Ohio roads. (Columbus Dispatch)
• An EPA analysis identifies nearly 700 chemicals used in fracking. (The Hill)

FRAC SAND: Records show a zoning official in a Minnesota county threatened frac sand opponents. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

SOLAR:
• Large-scale solar projects are facing opposition in Minnesota. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
• A Minnesota school district expects to cut its energy bills 5 percent with a new solar project. (Forum News Service)

NUCLEAR: Exelon says “we’re not looking for a bailout” for Illinois nuclear plants. (Chicago Sun-Times)

WIND: The CEO of the American Wind Energy Association says the group is “encouraging other states to follow Minnesota’s lead.” (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

TECHNOLOGY: A report foresees strong growth for Wisconsin companies in the energy storage business. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

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HYDROPOWER: A company will try again with a proposal for a new hydropower facility in downtown Minneapolis after being rejected by federal regulators. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

COMMENTARY: 
• Ohio’s limited oversight of fracking means it shouldn’t be allowed on public lands. (Toledo Blade)
• Ohio should listen to grid operators, not utilities, on reliability. (Crain’s Cleveland Business)
• Efforts to slow renewable energy growth in Kansas are “a step in the wrong direction.” (Lawrence Journal-World)

Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy and is a founding editor of both Midwest Energy News and Southeast Energy News. Prior to joining Fresh Energy, he was the managing editor for online news at Minnesota Public Radio. He started his journalism career in 2002 as a copy editor for the Duluth News Tribune before spending five years at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, where he worked as a copy editor, online producer, features editor and night city editor. A Nebraska native, Ken has a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors.

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