OIL TRAINS: Federal data show that Chicago is the epicenter of crude oil rail shipments. (Chicago Tribune)
ALSO: While BNSF has increased the number of oil trains running through Nebraska, the Keystone XL pipeline would replace very few of those shipments. (Lincoln Journal Star, McClatchy)
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GRID: Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner signs a bill allowing utilities to avoid review for smart grid improvements; consumer advocates are concerned about costs. (Chicago Tribune)
COAL:
• Neighbors who opposed a nearby coal mining operation are refusing to leave their homes. (Carbondale Southern Illinoisan)
• A Michigan coal plant is cited for a pollution violation as it struggles to manage coal ash runoff. (Coldwater Daily Reporter)
• How coal dependence could impact Nebraska’s ability to compete economically. (Omaha World-Herald)
TECHNOLOGY: A high-speed electric assist bike and an effort to generate electricity from nuclear waste will be spotlighted at the Clean Energy Challenge later this month. (Midwest Energy News)
WIND: Michigan wind developers grow weary from attacks by opponents: “to be the target of these vicious attacks, it gets old pretty quickly.” (Interlochen Public Radio)
POLITICS:
• A poll finds most voters want the next president to continue taking action on climate change. (The Hill)
• For industry advocates, denying climate science is no longer “all the rage.” (Washington Post)
OIL AND GAS:
• A new report criticizes Ohio and other states for lax oversight of drilling waste. (Crain’s Cleveland Business)
• An Ohio county known for its progressive politics could become the state’s top destination for fracking wastewater. (Columbus Dispatch)
• Developers of a natural gas pipeline near Toledo file eminent domain lawsuits. (Toledo Blade)
HYDROPOWER: Why climate change makes hydropower a riskier investment. (Climate Central)
SOLAR: Solar power is helping stabilize costs for Minnesota farmers. (Hastings Star Gazette)
BIOENERGY: Ethanol advocates tout their industry’s economic benefits for Ohio. (Crain’s Cleveland Business)
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EFFICIENCY: Smarter energy management helps an Iowa university cut costs over the summer. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)
COMMENTARY: What the climate movement can learn from religion. (The Guardian)