IOWA: A former regulator says she was removed by Gov. Terry Branstad “to appease MidAmerican Energy.” (Associated Press)
CLIMATE: Andrew Revkin discussed the state of climate politics in a visit to Michigan this week. (Midwest Energy News)
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SOLAR: President Obama today will announce a Department of Energy initiative to train 75,000 new solar workers. (Washington Post)
ALSO: The DOE’s “Solar Community” program has added 1.4 MW to the grid in its first six months. (FierceEnergy)
CLEAN POWER PLAN:
• Could a Midwest cap-and-trade plan be revived? (RTO Insider)
• Critics say an Ohio utility is exaggerating claims about EPA carbon rules. (Columbus Business First)
OIL AND GAS:
• An analysis finds only three states have publicly accessible databases for drilling violations. (Mother Jones)
• The Department of Transportation expects to release new rail safety rules next month. (Reuters)
• North Dakota orders five companies to restrict operations because of flaring violations. (Bismarck Tribune)
ETHANOL:
• A Wisconsin study finds biofuel production is displacing millions of acres of grasslands. (Monga Bay)
• The manager of a biodiesel refinery confronts Sen. Ted Cruz about oil industry subsidies at an Iowa event. (Des Moines Register)
WIND: A Texas company eyes possible Indiana locations for a wind farm. (Richmond Palladium-Item)
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MINNESOTA: Advocates at a rural Minnesota event call for increasing the state’s renewable energy standard. (Worthington Daily Globe)
COMMENTARY: The five psychological barriers to climate action. (BoingBoing)