COAL: As Indiana regulators consider whether to approve a proposed settlement clearing the way for Duke Energy’s nearly-complete 618 MW coal gasification plant in Edwardsport to move forward, opponents of the project continue to push back. (Midwest Energy News)

ALSO: A provision inserted into a Coast Guard authorization bill would allow the S.S. Badger to dump coal ash into Lake Michigan indefinitely, and activists say an Illinois coal company’s past pollution violations should prevent permits for a new mine. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Peoria Journal Star)

***SPONSORED LINK: Register today for Wind on the Wires’ “Energized for the Future” Gala, December 12 in Chicago, featuring former President Bill Clinton.***

CLIMATE: A report finds most nations’ plans to reduce emissions are inadequate, Senate Democrats say climate change deniers “are just plain dead wrong” in a hearing on the impacts of Hurricane Sandy, and Republican lawmakers seek a resolution declaring a carbon tax to be economically harmful. (Reuters, Politico, The Hill)

POLITICS: North Dakota Rep. Kevin Cramer says “it would be immoral” to leave coal and oil in the ground, because “God put it there for us.” (E&E Daily)

FLASHBACK: The fossil-fuels-as-divine-gift argument also came up in a Minnesota House debate on state renewable energy laws last year. (Midwest Energy News)

KEYSTONE XL: Environmentalists are calling on potential Secretary of State contender Susan Hill to dump her oil sands stock if she’s nominated. (The Hill)

NATURAL GAS: Wisconsin regulators temporarily deny a utility’s request to enter the compressed natural gas fueling market. (LaCrosse Tribune)

OIL: Enbridge officials say they’re experiencing unprecedented opposition as they seek to expand the Line 6B pipeline in Michigan. (Lansing State Journal)

TECHNOLOGY: Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois is selected by the Department of Energy to be a central hub in advanced battery development. (Chicago Tribune)

COMMENTARY: Why our cognitive biases leave us poorly equipped to manage the risks from climate change. (Climate Progress)

 

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.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.