NATURAL GAS: As extreme cold strains natural gas supplies, the PJM Interconnection is once again asking customers to conserve power. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

FRACKING: Fracking is credited for keeping natural gas prices low in Ohio; meanwhile, the economic impact of drilling in the state isn’t playing out quite as advertised. (Toledo Blade, Columbus Dispatch)

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FARM BILL: A compromise Farm Bill announced yesterday will include $881 million in energy programs. (DomesticFuel.com)

WIND: A new NREL study finds wind turbines can help improve grid reliability, and a Wisconsin town sues to block construction of a wind farm. (Greentech Media, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

SOLAR: An annual census finds 142,000 U.S. jobs tied to the solar industry, the report also finds most people install solar panels to save money. (National Journal, Greentech Media)

ALSO: As solar panels are installed on public buildings in Minnesota, critics raise questions about the economics. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

POLITICS: “All of the above” or “best of the above”? Energy interests will be closely watching President Obama’s language choice in tonight’s State of the Union address. (The Hill)

COAL: Minnesota’s effort to recalculate the true cost of generating electricity could impact the state’s largest coal plant, and Ohio-based Murray Energy sues the EPA for “illegal promulgation of senseless and destructive regulations.” (St. Cloud Times, Wheeling News-Register)

DIVESTMENT: Individual investors are finding it challenging to remove fossil fuels from their portfolios. (Associated Press)

BIOFUELS: The comment period for the EPA’s proposal to lower the Renewable Fuel Standard ends today. (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier)

GRID: Energy storage firms are showing mixed results in the marketplace. (Forbes)

TRANSPORTATION: “The next wave” of hydrogen-powered cars are on display at the Washington Auto Show, and may have a lower environmental impact than current electric cars. (Washington Post)

MEDIA: The president of CBS News will meet with two senators who are pushing for more media coverage of climate change. (Huffington Post)

COMMENTARY: How Ohio’s clean energy law actually compares to Stalinism. (Cincinnati CityBeat)

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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