WIND: An increasingly vocal proponent of clean energy, former President Bill Clinton will speak in Chicago tonight about the growth of wind power in the Midwest. (Midwest Energy News)
ALSO: Exelon’s CEO travels to Washington, D.C. to oppose extension of the production tax credit, which Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley still predicts will be approved this year; and Omaha’s public utility plans to double its wind capacity. (National Journal, Radio Iowa, Omaha World-Herald)
FRACKING: The Interior Department delays chemical disclosure rules for fracking, and a Pennsylvania court rules that newspapers can sue for records related to drilling pollution disputes. (The Hill, New York Times)
ELECTRIC CARS: A bankruptcy judge approves a Chinese acquisition of A123’s assets, and a report finds Kansas City is well-prepared for electric vehicles. (Bloomberg, Kansas City Star)
OIL: Exxon predicts North America will become a net exporter of oil and gas, and a judge temporarily halts work on Keystone XL over a land dispute. (Associated Press)
SOLAR: An industry report finds solar installations are up 44 percent in the U.S., and Flint, Michigan claims the largest solar-powered Christmas tree in the Midwest. (Bloomberg, MLive.com)
POLITICS: Sen. Barbara Boxer announces plans to form a climate change caucus in the Senate. (The Hill)
ETHANOL: A Kansas-based Fed economist says markets, not mandates, are driving ethanol production. (Ethanol Producer Magazine)
COMMENTARY: A conservative, small-government plan to fight climate change. (Forbes)