TRANSMISSION: Owners of a Minnesota organic dairy farm prevail in their dispute with transmission developers over the state’s “buy the farm” law, and a federal court upholds FERC’s regional grid-planning process. (Minneapolis Star Tribune, Reuters)

COAL: Developers of the FutureGen coal plant say a Sierra Club permit dispute could derail the project, a coal plant near Indianapolis will be converted to natural gas, and opponents of an Illinois coal mine seek a state hearing on the project. (EnergyWire, Indianapolis Star, Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette)

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SOLAR: A surge in solar power is anticipated in Minnesota and Iowa, and center-pivot installers take an interest in an Iowa farmer’s solar-powered irrigation system. (Minneapolis Star Tribune, Cedar Rapids Gazette, Sioux City Journal)

CLIMATE: The Illinois Commerce Commission is holding public hearings on how to reduce the state’s carbon emissions. (Associated Press)

ETHANOL: While a proposed ordinance requiring E15 to be sold at most Chicago gas stations is stalled, the boating industry isn’t backing down. (Midwest Energy News)

OIL & GAS: Two cases before the Ohio Supreme Court could have a major impact on mineral rights in the state, and new testing at Alberta’s oil sands shows higher levels of air pollution. (Columbus Business First, Edmonton Journal)

TRANSPORTATION: A Wisconsin firm is among the recipients of a new round of federal funding, netting $5 million to develop technology for more efficient vehicles. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

GREEN ECONOMY: Wind and solar installations could be in the future for Michigan International Raceway as the facility seeks to reduce its environmental impact. (MLive)

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WIND: An Indiana utility announces a 15-year deal to buy power from an Illinois wind farm. (McClatchy-Tribune)

COMMENTARY: Why other states shouldn’t follow Ohio’s lead on renewable energy policy. (Boston Globe)

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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