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FRACKING: An Ohio State study finds that faulty well casings — not fracking — are responsible for water contamination near shale gas operations in Pennsylvania and Texas. (Columbus Dispatch)

***SPONSORED LINK: Register now for the Midwest Energy Policy Conference 2014, Sep. 30-Oct. 1 in St. Louis!***

WASTE-TO-ENERGY: The market is improving for biodigesters in Minnesota and elsewhere, and construction is delayed at a waste-to-energy facility in Iowa. (Midwest Energy News, Cedar Rapids Gazette)

OIL: New pipeline projects mean the nation’s largest oil hub, in Cushing, Oklahoma, continues to grow; and Canadian environmental groups threaten legal action over Enbridge’s plan to increase oil sands flows into the U.S. (Tulsa World, Toronto Globe & Mail)

WIND: Developers of three more Ohio wind projects seek extensions on construction. (Columbus Dispatch Business First)

GRID: A court ruling on demand response could spike energy bills by 20% in Illinois. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

ALSO: How thousands of residential water heaters could serve as a “virtual power plant” to help manage the grid. (EnergyWire)

COAL: The Government Accountability Office increases its estimate for coal plant retirements by 2025. (The Hill)

FRAC SAND: A Texas company strikes it rich on Wisconsin silica sand, and a sand mining operation threatens Minnesota’s Renaissance Festival. (Wall Street Journal, Minneapolis Star Tribune)

PIPELINES: TransCanada applies for a new permit for Keystone XL in South Dakota, pipeline developers face opposition in North Dakota, and Michigan residents want more transparency about a proposed natural gas line. (Associated Press, Forum News Service, MLive)

***SPONSORED LINK: On Oct.29, experts will converge on Madison, Wisconsin to discuss the energy, water and food challenges created by growing cities. Hosted by the Wisconsin Energy Institute. Register before Oct. 1 and save 20%.***

TRANSPORTATION: Chicago becomes the first city in North America with an all-electric garbage truck. (CleanTechnica)

COMMENTARY: Energy efficiency investments are paying back $3-$4 for every dollar spent. (Christian Science Monitor)

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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