CLIMATE: A federal court today will hear arguments from industry groups challenging the EPA’s greenhouse gas regulations. (Greenwire)

ILLINOIS: Gov. Pat Quinn vetoes a bill that would have raised utility rates $70 million to help pay for grid upgrades. (Chicago Tribune)

***SPONSORED LINK: Join RETECH, the 5th Annual Renewable Energy Technology Conference & Exhibition, this September in Washington, DC to address today’s most pressing energy issues. Midwest Energy News readers receive 10% off with VIP code: MEN10 – register today! ***

EFFICIENCY: An Iowa utility with plans to build a new natural gas-fired power plant is also cutting back on efficiency efforts, in what advocates say is a case of misplaced priorities. (Midwest Energy News)

WIND: A wind industry groups plans to float a new tax plan before congressional committees. (The Hill)

NUCLEAR: The NRC says the Palisades nuclear plant leaked “very slightly radioactive water” into Lake Michigan. (Associated Press)

COAL: “King Coal” is losing its crown, and the S.S. Badger starts a new season on Lake Michigan. (Bloomberg, Ludington Daily News)

FRACKING: Attorneys general from 13 states, including North Dakota and Ohio, sign on to a letter to the EPA saying fracking regulation should be left to the states; and a new natural gas pipeline is planned through Ohio. (Tulsa World, Akron Beacon Journal)

OIL: The State Department has extended the comment period for Enbridge’s plan to expand an oil sands pipeline running to Superior, Wisconsin. (Detroit Free Press)

WISCONSIN: The University of Wisconsin receives $10 million for a program to help the dairy industry reduce its climate impact. (Wisconsin State Journal)

MICHIGAN: Muskegon eyes a clean energy partnership as having potential to help revive its port. (MLive.com)

TRANSPORTATION: An Ohio company plans to turn natural gas into diesel fuel, and Detroit becomes a hub for bicycle manufacturing. (Columbus Dispatch, Detroit Free Press)

COMMENTARY: How government regulations are helping create coal jobs, efficiency rules could save Ohio ratepayers billions, and a closer look at Minnesota’s proposed solar energy standard. (The Atlantic, Greentech Media, CleanTechnica)

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.