AGRICULTURE: Experts say an aging electrical grid is holding back investments in Michigan’s agriculture industry. (Midwest Energy News)

ALSO: Falling prices for LED bulbs make them an increasingly popular option for hog barns. (Midwest Energy News)

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FRACKING: Ohio Gov. John Kasich says he will continue to push for a higher drilling tax if re-elected, and fracking is expected to boost the plastics industry. (Columbus Dispatch, Columbus Business First)

BAKKEN: North Dakota meets its first benchmark to cut natural gas flaring, state officials say the rules could slow oil production growth. (Bismarck Tribune, Bloomberg)

RAIL: Mayors of Chicago suburbs call for tighter federal regulations on oil trains. (Chicago Tribune)

OHIO: State Sen. Bill Seitz explains his opposition to renewable energy laws: “I care about utility rates.” (Columbus Business First)

UTILITIES: A Wisconsin utility’s real-time pricing program is saving manufacturers money. (Milwaukee Business Journal)

EFFICIENCY: New efficiency rules for refrigerators are expected to save consumers $36 billion on energy over the next 30 years. (The Hill)

CLIMATE: An expert at a recent Minnesota economic forum on climate policy says the actual cost of carbon emissions could be as high as $120 per ton. (ClimateWire)

GERMANY: What Germany’s renewable energy push means for utilities. (New York Times)

TECHNOLOGY: Milwaukee’s Energy Innovation Center aims to nurture new start-up companies. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

NATURAL GAS: An Indiana city signs off on a proposed new $800 million power plant. (Associated Press)

COMMENTARY: How the New York Times overstated the benefits of fracking in Ohio, and federal efficiency programs help Michigan farmers save thousands. (Huffington Post, NRDC Switchboard)

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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