CLIMATE: Climate talks begin in Doha, Qatar, with a main objective of extending the Kyoto Protocol. (Associated Press)

MEANWHILE: The Heartland Institute joins with ALEC in its effort to repeal state renewable energy standards, and Minnesota meteorologist Paul Douglas will travel to Indiana to encourage conservatives to take action on climate change. (Washington Post, Indianapolis Star)

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EFFICIENCY: How “social” package pickups could cut the carbon footprint of online retail, Minneapolis may require commercial buildings to report their energy use, and efficiency advocates seek new allies in Congress as key Republican lawmakers step down this year. (Midwest Energy News, Minneapolis Star Tribune, The Hill)

OIL: An Enbridge pipeline is shut down briefly following an oil leak in Illinois, and a Michigan family will have a new Enbridge pipeline expansion running literally through their back yard. (Reuters, AnnArbor.com)

ALSO: Menards, facing a worker shortage at its story in the Oil Patch town of Minot, North Dakota, will be flying in workers on a weekly basis from Eau Claire, Wisconsin. (Eau Claire Leader-Telegram)

NATURAL GAS: The city council in Holland, Michigan is expected to give the go-ahead this week for a new $182 million natural gas power plant. (MLive.com)

WIND: Wind development in South Dakota “has pretty much shut down,” and a new wind farm goes online in Michigan. (Sioux Falls Argus Leader, MLive.com)

SMART METERS: Minnesota is becoming a leading market for technology to help consumers save money on energy bills. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

CARBON CAPTURE: An Illinois ethanol plant has sequestered 317,000 tons of CO2 in its first year of operation. (BusinessGreen.com)

SOLAR: A new interactive map illustrates the scope of Ohio’s solar industry. (Toledo Blade)

NUCLEAR: Missouri loses out on a project to build small-scale nuclear reactors. (Associated Press)

TRANSPORTATION: “High-speed” 110 mph service begins on a short stretch of track on the Chicago-St. Louis Amtrak line. (Associated Press)

COMMENTARY: Climate change denial “is jeopardizing both our economic growth and our national security,” and electoral maps show how the GOP’s “war on coal” narrative won them strong support in mining country. (Toledo Blade, Grist)