FRACKING: An analysis finds that even in water-rich states like Ohio, large withdrawals for fracking can still place strains on watersheds. (Midwest Energy News)
ALSO:
• An analyst says North Dakota’s oil production has peaked. (Reuters)
• Ohio Republicans form a committee to discuss drilling taxes. (Toledo Blade)
• North Dakota researchers say satellite images of the Bakken oil field are misleading. (Minnesota Public Radio)
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CLIMATE:
• Public concern about climate change is beginning to rise again. (New York Times)
• The “97 percent” scientific consensus on climate change is actually closer to 99.9 percent. (MSNBC)
SOLAR:
• A developer plans a community solar garden at the site of a contentious 1970s fight over transmission lines in Minnesota. (Midwest Energy News)
• Despite legislative setbacks, solar developers still “see Ohio as a huge growth opportunity.” (Toledo Blade)
• The “new gold rush for solar” is in Minnesota. (Forbes)
PIPELINES:
• Iowa regulatory staff find more than 90 questions or deficiencies in a proposed pipeline plan. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)
• Officials in a North Dakota county approve a pipeline terminal amid sharp criticism from landowners over the leasing process. (Bismarck Tribune)
COAL: The Midwest grid is using less coal than a year ago, but the reduction is not as sharp as in neighboring regions. (Argus Media)
INDIANA: Manufacturers say the state’s high electricity rates are hurting competitiveness. (Times of Northwest Indiana)
CLEAN ECONOMY:
• A new report ranks Nebraska as the worst state for clean energy investment. (Fast Company)
• Minnesota’s “Energy City” continues to pursue sustainability. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: GM and Nissan are using electric vehicle batteries for energy storage. (New York Times)
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HYDRO: A 100-year-old dam on the Mississippi River is now providing power for a Wisconsin co-op. (Electric Co-op Today)
COMMENTARY:
• An Indiana “clean coal” plant “has become the rate-busting gift that keeps on giving.” (National Legal and Policy Center)
• Multiple studies show Ohio can cut carbon emissions reliably and affordably. (NRDC Switchboard)