CLIMATE: A White House aide says greenhouse gas rules for existing new power plants will be coming in the “not-too-distant future,” and a Gallup poll finds Americans’ concern about climate change is increasing. (The Hill)
POLITICS: Secretary of Energy nominee Ernest Moniz goes before a Senate energy committee today, experts say Moniz will be a “dose of reality” for the department. (The Hill, Greenwire)
**SPONSORED LINK: Join Ensia Live in Minneapolis this Thursday as global architect Peter Williams speaks on the compelling links between housing design and health – with a live performance by visual artist Gregory Euclide and musician S. Carey of Bon Iver. Midwest Energy News readers enter “midwest2013″ for discount tickets.***
INDIANA: A bill that would give utilities more power to enact rate increases moves through the state legislature, another piece of legislation would create incentives for natural gas-powered trucks. (Midwest Energy News, Associated Press)
ILLINOIS: A state fund to promote clean energy is expected to grow from $15 million to $150 million, but glitches in state law may make the money nearly impossible to spend. (Crain’s Chicago Business)
OHIO: A legislative hearing today will debate the merit’s of the state’s energy efficiency standard. (Columbus Dispatch)
NUCLEAR: The former chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission says all 104 U.S. nuclear plants have a safety flaw that cannot be fixed, and should be phased out and replaced with newer technology. (New York Times)
WIND: Neighbors file a lawsuit claiming an array of health problems from a Michigan wind farm, and projects in Ohio are in limbo amid debate over the state’s renewable energy standard. (MLive.com, Springfield News-Sun)
OIL: A report says shipping oil by rail is substantially more risky than shipping by pipeline, but a closer look at the numbers shows those risks are overstated. (Bloomberg)
ALSO: North Dakota’s oil tax trust fund approaches $1 billion, and state lawmakers debate bills to ease conflicts with landowners and curb natural gas flaring. (Associated Press, Forum News Service)
COAL: Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin calls for tougher limits on the S.S. Badger, which has been recently permitted to continue dumping coal ash into Lake Michigan for the next two years. (Chicago Tribune)
FRAC SAND: Minnesota companies press forward with frac sand mining plans, despite legislative uncertainty. (Minnesota Public Radio)
BIOFUELS: An ethanol industry group is calling on the EPA to lower its target for cellulosic biofuels. (The Hill)
NATURAL GAS: Wisconsin regulators approve a 14-mile connection allowing a major snack food manufacturer to switch from propane to natural gas. (Superior Telegram)
SMART METERS: Consumers Energy will begin installing smart meters in the Holland, Michigan area later this month. (Holland Sentinel)
EFFICIENCY: Decatur, Illinois contracts with Johnson Controls to develop an energy saving plan for the city. (Decatur Herald-Review)
COMMENTARY: How a proposed feed-in tariff for small wind will help keep energy dollars in Iowa. (Clean Coalition)