POLITICS: Democrats consider options to move forward with the confirmation of Gina McCarthy to lead the EPA, which Republicans have used procedural tactics to delay. (The Hill)
EFFICIENCY: Local business groups help reduce emissions without mentioning climate change, and the SEC upholds a shareholders’ vote requiring a hotel chain to switch to low-flow shower heads. (ClimateWire, InsideClimate News)
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CLIMATE: Another study confirms a broad scientific consensus on climate change, finding 97 percent of published papers identify human-caused emissions as the primary cause. (Reuters)
FRACKING: Supporters of fracking in Illinois hope for a quick vote on a long-stalled regulatory bill. (Associated Press)
FRAC SAND: A study commissioned by the Wisconsin Towns Association and Wisconsin Farmers Unions urges local governments to take more precautions on frac sand mining. (Wisconsin Public Radio)
OIL: Enbridge may be forced to shut down a North Dakota rail terminal in a dispute over the levels of potentially deadly hydrogen sulfide in crude delivered to the facility. (Reuters)
WIND: Operators of Indiana’s largest wind farm propose changing the facility’s nighttime operations in order to protect endangered bats. (Associated Press)
NUCLEAR: The NRC seeks to change rules governing the transport of nuclear waste, to bring the U.S. in line with international standards. (The Hill)
SMART METERS: Michigan regulators allow DTE Energy to charge customers who opt out of smart meters, but not as much as the utility requested. (MLive.com)
SOLAR: Michigan researchers will study the effectiveness of solar heating systems installed on low-income housing. (Muskegon Chronicle)
COMMENTARY: Utilities vs. rooftop solar: What the fight is all about. (Grist)