CABINET: President Obama is expected to appoint Gina McCarthy to lead the EPA, and Ernest Moniz to head the Department of Energy. (Reuters)

SOLAR: A pair of Minnesota lawmakers say they’ll introduce a bill calling for a 10 percent solar standard. (St. Paul Pioneer Press)

***SPONSORED LINK: Register Now for the 2013 Sustainability Summit & Exposition, March 6-8 in Milwaukee. Keynote speakers include Will Allen, Ed Begley, Jr., Dr. James Hansen and Michael Mann. ***

NUCLEAR: Despite the closure of its Kewaunee nuclear plant in Wisconsin, Domonion CEO Thomas Farrell says nuclear energy will still be key to achieving climate goals; and a Department of Energy contract will help advance small modular reactors. (Greenwire, New York Times)

COAL: Indiana lawmakers are expected to vote today on a bill that could determine the future of a proposed coal-to-gas plant. (Evansville Courier & Press)

CLIMATE: Secretary of State John Kerry says failing to address climate change represents a lost economic opportunity. (The Hill)

RENEWABLES: Renewable energy accounted for 100% of new generation capacity added in January, according to FERC. (The Hill)

EFFICIENCY: A new report finds energy efficiency is a better economic driver than adding new production. (GreenTech Media)

CLIMATE: A bill in Kansas would require schools to teach the “controversy” on climate science. (Topeka Capital-Journal)

MICHIGAN: A group of contractors say troubled battery manufacturer LG Chem owes them more than $250,000. (WOOD-TV)

COMMENTARY: How biofuel production is threatening grasslands on the Great Plains. (EarthTechling)

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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