CLIMATE: A top U.N. climate diplomat says most of the world’s coal needs to remain in the ground, and Secretary of State John Kerry says the U.S. is “absolutely committed” to cutting greenhouse gas emissions. (Associated Press, Politico)

ALSO: Critics say EPA requirements will slow development of carbon capture technology, and an American Electric Power executive says carbon rules “are putting the power (system) under considerable stress.” (Greenwire, Columbus Business First)

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POLICY: ALEC’s more targeted approach to weakening state renewable energy laws appears to be having little effect this year. (Greentech Media)

NUCLEAR: Exelon says it may have to close a Quad Cities nuclear plant unless it can raise electricity rates in Illinois. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

SOLAR: An Iowa rural co-op plans to build the state’s largest solar array, a Minnesota start-up develops software to evaluate rooftop solar potential, and an Illinois town takes another shot at building its own solar farm after rejecting a state grant. (Daily Iowan, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Chicago Tribune)

OHIO: An Ohio group will try again to get a measure on the ballot to provide $13 billion in state bonding over ten years for clean energy projects. (Columbus Dispatch)

FRACKING: Colorado will be the first state to limit methane emissions from natural gas operations, and an Illinois oil industry representative says the state regulatory process has “cast a chill” over leasing activity. (Bloomberg, Belleville News-Democrat)

OIL: North Dakota’s governor will form an advisory panel on pipeline safety; and the short-lived drilling boom in Kansas produced a few winners, but mostly losers. (Fargo Forum, Wichita Eagle)

NATURAL GAS: A Wisconsin utility says it will need a new power plant by 2019. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

WASTE-TO-ENERGY: An agreement between General Motors and Detroit Renewable Energy will use municipal waste to produce steam heat for a Detroit assembly plant. (CBS Detroit)

COMMENTARY: How “word games” leave the public misinformed about fracking. (Grist)

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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