WISCONSIN: Democratic legislators introduce a bill to increase the state’s renewable energy standard to 30 percent by 2030. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

COAL ASH: The North Carolina ash spill is prompting calls for tougher oversight; Illinois regulators want increased monitoring for groundwater pollution near coal ash sites. (McClatchy, Springfield State Journal-Register)

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SOLAR: An unusual solar power arrangement between Oberlin College and the city utility that serves it is generating a big return for both entities. (Midwest Energy News)

ALSO: The municipal utility in Lincoln, Nebraska plans to revise its net metering rate and eliminate some solar incentives. (Lincoln Journal Star)

ELECTRIC CARS: Tesla plans to build a $5 billion battery factory in pursuit of a mass-market electric car. (New York Times)

FRACKING: A new report highlights the lack of scientific research around the health impacts of increased fracking, Ohio’s Supreme Court hears arguments over local control of drilling, and Chesapeake Energy says it plans to increase production in Ohio. (InsideClimate News, Columbus Business First, Youngstown Vindicator)

OIL: A federal regulator says rail cars being used to ship Bakken oil pose an “unacceptable public risk,” meanwhile a new sample of Bakken crude shows lower levels of volatile compounds. (Associated Press, Reuters)

KEYSTONE XL: The State Department’s inspector general finds the department’s environmental review did not break conflict-of-interest rules, and pipeline backers note that a wind- and solar-powered barn placed in Keystone XL’s path by opponents is drawing electricity from the grid. (New York Times, Omaha World-Herald)

GRID: An Illinois utility takes steps to protect raptors from being electrocuted on power lines, and ComEd speeds up its timetable for smart meter installation. (Chicago Tribune)

NATURAL GAS: A Michigan city approves $160 million in bonds to finance a new natural gas plant. (MLive)

COAL: The Energy Information Administration launches a new tool to track U.S. coal production. (Columbus Business First)

COMMENTARY: Are utilities already dead? (Grist)