MICHIGAN: State officials announce a plan to resolve the Upper Peninsula’s energy crisis, which involves a new natural gas plant and a Wisconsin utility pulling out of the state almost entirely. (Midwest Energy News)

OHIO: A new report finds clean energy investment has plummeted in Ohio since lawmakers froze the state’s renewable energy and efficiency laws. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

***SPONSORED LINK: The Midwest Energy Solutions Conference is the largest event of its kind in the region. This event attracts a diverse assemblage of thought leaders from around the nation who share a passion for energy efficiency.***

FRACKING: The EPA plans new regulations on methane emissions, and fracking registration is off to a slow start in Illinois. (New York Times, Springfield State Journal-Register)

SOLAR: A community solar developer announces a partnership with a major Minnesota construction firm, and a new study finds rooftop solar increases property values. (Midwest Energy News, Phys.org)

PETCOKE: Chicago officials move to limit transport of petcoke in the city. (Midwest Energy News)

WISCONSIN: Renewable energy advocates in Wisconsin find the deck is increasingly stacked against them. (EnergyWire)

OIL: Falling oil revenues make the state budget crisis worse in Kansas. (Topeka Capital-Journal)

KEYSTONE XL: Congressional debate over the pipeline will delve into climate change, oil exports and other issues. (Politico)

TRANSMISSION: A Minnesota organic dairy announces it’s shutting down after completing a settlement with developers of a transmission line. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

ELECTRIC CARS: In a visit to Detroit, Elon Musk says he expects Tesla to sell “a few million” cars per year by 2025, and encourages the state to “open the doors” to his marketing model. (MLive)

COAL: After a slight uptick in 2014, U.S. coal output is expected to fall over the next two years; and operators of an Illinois coal plant announce plans to cut emissions by 90 percent. (Platts, Peoria Journal Star)

NUCLEAR: Operators of a Michigan nuclear plant say a failure to follow procedures during refueling should be treated as a low-level violation. (Associated Press)

BIOMASS: A state grant helps a Wisconsin ski chalet convert its heating system to biomass. (Wausau Daily Herald)

COMMENTARY: An Iowa dairy farmer explains why he supports new transmission lines. (Des Moines Register)

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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