EFFICIENCY: Chicago and Kansas City are among ten cities chosen for a national effort, backed by Michael Bloomberg and major nonprofits and philanthropies, aimed at cutting $1 billion in energy costs. (Chicago Sun-Times, Kansas City Star, Greentech Media)

ALSO: Illinois regulators say the state’s largest utility needs to overhaul its three-year plan to be more aggressive on energy efficiency. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

***SPONSORED LINK: The 2014 Clean Energy Challenge business plan competition awards over $500,000 in prizes to the Midwest’s best clean tech researchers, entrepreneurs and students! Early bird tickets available. Presented by Clean Energy Trust. #StartUpNow***

PROPANE: Is ethanol production to blame? The weather? Experts say there is no simple explanation for this winter’s propane shortages. (Midwest Energy News)

WIND: An Ohio Air Force base suspends plans for a wind turbine amid objections from wildlife groups. (Toledo Blade)

COAL: A St. Louis ballot measure, specifically targeting Peabody Coal, would block tax incentives for any company engaging in “unsustainable” energy production. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

BAKKEN: A North Dakota task force recommends requiring drillers to submit natural gas capture plans in advance among other measures to reduce flaring in the state’s oil patch. (Fargo Forum)

DEREGULATION: Efforts are advancing in Indiana and Michigan to increase competition amid concerns about high electricity rates. (EnergyWire)

BIOFUELS: The Farm Bill includes a provision eliminating subsidies for blender pumps, and the EPA has received more than 15,000 public comments on the Renewable Fuel Standard. (Reuters, Sioux Falls Argus Leader)

FRACKING: Ohio’s attorney general seeks dismissal of an appeal by anti-fracking groups seeking to block construction of a wastewater injection well. (Columbus Dispatch)

CLIMATE: Seventeen foundations controlling $1.8 billion announce plans to divest from fossil fuels. (New York Times)

SOLAR: PolitiFact examines President Obama’s claim of a new solar installation every four minutes, and rates it true.

TRANSPORTATION: An Iowa legislative panel approves a measure to raise the state’s gasoline tax 10 cents per gallon, although Gov. Terry Branstad isn’t embracing the idea; and oil traffic is causing major delays for Amtrak trains. (Cedar Rapids Gazette, Quad-City Times, The Hill)

EDITOR’S NOTE: Yesterday’s digest omitted a link to a story about efforts to establish a sugar beet biofuel industry in North Dakota.