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)