WIND: Despite an increase in construction activity, the wind industry is again facing uncertainty in Congress. (Greenwire)
UTILITIES: A Q&A with former regulator Ron Lehr, who says his home state of Colorado “has shown that renewables can beat the hell out of fossil fuels on price and why we need to move away from using them.” (Midwest Energy News)
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FRACKING: A new study finds fracking is taking place at shallower depths — and closer to groundwater — than previously thought. (Los Angeles Times)
NATURAL GAS: Utica Shale production has increased tenfold since 2012, and a $1.75 billion pipeline is planned to connect Ohio natural gas operations to the Gulf Coast. (Columbus Business First, Columbus Dispatch)
COAL: Peabody Energy’s CEO says he’s not worried about pollution rules because coal “always wins out.” (Financial Review)
OIL: Crews contain a 270-barrel oil spill in North Dakota. (Associated Press)
MEDIA: Journalists and watchdog groups say the EPA is preventing its scientists from speaking freely to the press. (Greenwire)
BIOFUEL: The EPA approves a Wisconsin-produced “drop-in” biofuel as a gasoline substitute. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
SOLAR: Construction begins on a new solar manufacturing facility in Michigan. (MLive)
HYDRO: A groundbreaking ceremony will be held today for a new 50 MW hydroelectric project in Iowa. (Radio Iowa)
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TRANSPORTATION: A Wisconsin woman is attracting attention with a solar-electric hybrid bike that gets the equivalent of 1,800 miles per gallon. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
COMMENTARY: Ohio takes a big risk with its energy freeze, and does clean energy make economic sense for Minnesota? (Cleveland Plain Dealer, MinnPost)