COAL: Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed a bill Friday that would have required customers of two utilities to cover 95 percent of the costs of a proposed Chicago coal-to-gas plant, saying the plan “is not a fair deal for ratepayers.” (Springfield State Journal-Register)

FRAC SAND: A Minnesota legislator wants the state to play a bigger role in studying the potential impact of expanded frac sand mining. (Midwest Energy News)

POLITICS: Mitt Romney’s selection of Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate sharpens the contrast between the two parties on energy issues, and Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley says after a conference call with the Romney campaign, the candidate “didn’t seem to be backing down” on his opposition to the wind tax credit. (Politico, Quad City Times)

MICHIGAN: A Michigan State University study finds a ballot measure to expand the state’s renewable energy standard, if approved, could spark the creation of more than 74,000 jobs; meanwhile, the state’s current standard has led to substantial growth of wind energy in the state.  (Detroit News)

ALSO: Michigan manufacturers of wind turbine components, as in the rest of the U.S., are “on the edge of a cliff” amid uncertainty over federal tax credits. (Detroit Free Press)

DEEP QUESTIONS:

HYDRO: Despite the drought, dams along the Missouri River are producing more electricity than normal thanks to abundant rain and snow last year. (USA Today)

GRID: Ohio utilities say abundant supply and lower demand have kept the power flowing despite record heat this summer. (Toledo Blade)

NUCLEAR: Another cooling system leak shuts down a Michigan nuclear plant for the second time since June. (Kalamazoo Gazette)

TRANSPORTATION: Researchers at a Tennessee university invent a kit that can convert a conventional car into a hybrid for as little as $3,000 by attaching hub-mounted electric motors to the back wheels. (Green Car Report) 

COMMENTARY: The Cedar Rapids Gazette says “it’s just too soon” to end tax credits for wind energy.

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Ken Paulman

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.

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