SOLAR: Minnesota regulators are expected to decide today what rates utilities will be required to pay for community solar gardens. For updates, check back with Midwest Energy News later today or follow us on Twitter. (EnergyWire)

ALSO: Michigan researchers develop a commercial-scale solar panel that can store its own energy, American Electric Power installs a solar array at Ohio State University, and a new report finds more than 1,500 Michigan customers are generating their own electricity. (Holland Sentinel, Columbus Dispatch, Michigan Radio)

***SPONSORED LINK: Support Solar in Illinois – Purchase a raffle ticket to win a Tesla Model S and Bosch Home Charger from the Illinois Solar Energy Association! Only 2,000 tickets will be sold.***

BIOENERGY: Advocates say a Wisconsin utility’s rate plan would slash the payments farmers receive for energy produced from biodigesters. (Madison Capital Times)

OIL: A 14-mile section of proposed pipeline will turn Wisconsin into a vital oil link, North Dakota plans hearings on the safety of shipping Bakken oil, and opposition builds against the Sandpiper pipeline in Minnesota. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Bismarck Tribune, InsideClimate News)

FRACKING: The 1,000th Utica Shale well is expected to be drilled in Ohio next week. (Columbus Dispatch)

ILLINOIS: A Chicago suburb shuts down its village hall amid threats over a controversial power plant project. (Chicago Tribune)

UTILITIES: Wisconsin Energy promises a two-year freeze in gas bills if it’s allowed to take over Integrys Energy. (Chicago Tribune)

POLITICS: Minnesota’s Senate candidates debate energy policy at an annual ag expo. (MinnPost)

ELECTRIC CARS: GM joins a national consortium of automakers and utilities aimed at streamlining electric vehicle charging. (CleanTechnica)

COMMENTARY: We’re entering the late innings on climate change, the five most annoying things about the Illinois power grid, and why Iowa’s governor should embrace the Clean Power Plan. (Chicago Tribune, CUB Illinois, Des Moines Register)

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Ken Paulman

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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