OIL: A Texas oil executive whose company faces the largest pollution fine in North Dakota history is also at the center of a $22 million fraud investigation in his own state. (EnergyWire)

WIND: Opponents prepare to celebrate the demise of a Minnesota wind project as developers miss a key deadline set by state regulators. (Minnesota Public Radio)

***SPONSORED LINK: Mix and Mingle with leading decision makers in Renewable Energy at RETECH 2013! Come celebrate RETECH’s 5th Anniversary, September 9-11 with more than a thousand of its closest friends while growing your business. Midwest Energy News readers receive 10% off with VIP code: MEN10 – register today!***

UTILITIES: An expert from IBM says utilities should consider becoming “energy malls,” offering a variety of energy services similar to the ones being rolled out by telecom companies. (Midwest Energy News)

POLITICS: Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson says he is the victim of an “environmental jihad” after an ad is released criticizing him for rejecting climate science. The ad can be viewed here. (The Hill, YouTube)

FRACKING: Rather than oil or gas, an 80-mile pipeline project in Ohio’s Utica Shale will carry water to drilling sites; and the EPA’s Gina McCarthy says “responsible” natural gas production will be key to meeting climate targets. (Wall Street Journal, The Hill)

ALSO: McCarthy is scheduled to make an appearance at the Iowa State Fair today. (Des Moines Register)

FRAC SAND: A court rejects a lawsuit challenging approval of a Wisconsin frac sand mine. (Winona Daily News)

COAL: Amid conflict-of-interest allegations, an Indiana Supreme Court refuses to recuse himself in a case involving a controversial coal-to-gas plant; and Indiana regulators approve $500 million in upgrades to two coal plants, which will cost ratepayers nearly $9 a month by 2017. (Indianapolis Star)

NUCLEAR: A court says the Nuclear Regulatory Commission must continue to review the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste site, and the NRC rejects environmental groups’ request to review plans for work at the Davis-Besse plant in Ohio. (New York Times, Toledo Blade)

WISCONSIN: Renewable energy businesses and supporters urge state regulators to reinstate incentives for solar power. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

COMMENTARY: What the “war on coal” has in common with the “war on Christmas.” (Bloomberg)

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.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.