SOLAR: Minnesota regulators approve the largest solar project in state history, with more than 100 MW to be built at 21 locations. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

OHIO: The chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio delays a decision on income guarantees for some power plants. (Columbus Dispatch)

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UTILITIES: Xcel Energy seeks a significant fixed charge increase in Wisconsin, a more modest proposal was rejected by Minnesota regulators earlier this year. (La Crosse Tribune, Midwest Energy News archive)

ALSO: Illinois’ attorney general accuses Dynegy of manipulating electricity markets in a recent capacity auction that led to a price spike in the southern part of the state. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

EFFICIENCY: A report from the city of Minneapolis finds large office buildings tend to be higher performers on energy efficiency. (Midwest Energy News)

CLEAN POWER PLAN:
• Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says EPA carbon rules are “unworkable” for his state. (The Hill)
• Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback signs a bill requiring the state to develop a plan to comply with carbon regulations. (Topeka Capital-Journal)

OIL AND GAS:
• New facilities in Ohio to process a byproduct from drilling pose a pollution hazard. (Columbus Dispatch)
• Rising oil prices mean a North Dakota tax break for producers won’t go into effect. (Associated Press)

FRAC SAND: A report finds Wisconsin supplied nearly half of U.S. demand for frac sand in 2014. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

COAL:
• The end of the coal era is near for an Indianapolis-area power plant. (Indianapolis Star)
• A Wisconsin county balks at the cost of performing an air quality study in a neighborhood near an exposed coal pile. (Green Bay Press-Gazette)

MORE SOLAR:
• A Minnesota lawmaker praises a rural co-op’s investment in solar power. (Rochester Post-Bulletin)
• An Iowa utility proposes a community solar project. (KCRG) 

WIND: Illinois lawmakers advance a bill to clarify local regulation of wind farms. (Carbondale Southern Illinoisan)

GRID: A report finds utility investment in energy storage has increased 18 percent over last year. (ClimateWire)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Ford opens up its electric vehicle patents to competitors. (CBS Detroit)

COMMENTARY: An Ohio bill letting counties bypass state wind turbine rules “would at least mitigate the state’s ill-advised change in setback standards.” (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

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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