FRACKING: A good cement casing is key to ensuring a gas well won’t contaminate groundwater supplies. But states have a wide range of regulations governing the practice. (EnergyWire)

COAL: A judge rules North Dakota can proceed with its lawsuit challenging a Minnesota law requiring carbon offsets for imported coal power, and Ohio’s largest coal plant can no longer compete with natural gas. (Minneapolis Star Tribune, Youngstown Vindicator)

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SOLAR: The Minnesota Commerce Department orders Xcel Energy to continue its solar incentives for another three years. (St. Paul Pioneer Press)

OIL: Hyperion declines to renew its land contracts for a proposed refinery in South Dakota, meaning the developers would likely have to “start from scratch” if they paln to proceed with the project; and an airline serving Dickinson, North Dakota now has enough traffic that it will no longer receive federal subsidies. (Sioux City Journal)

FRAC SAND: A group of more than 50 protesters greeted a frac sand conference in a Minneapolis suburb yesterday. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

WIND: Ohio State University signs an agreement to get a quarter of its power from wind. (Associated Press)

TRANSPORTATION: The White House announces it will fast-track federal review of a planned Twin Cities light rail line. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

EFFICIENCY: An online energy-saving tool helped Chicagoans who used it avoid most of the rate spike from this summer’s heat wave, according to the group that developed it. (Chicago Sun-Times)

COMMENTARY: The Grand Forks Herald says the EPA has a place in the Oil Patch, and Daniel J. Weiss suggests three climate and energy questions for tomorrow night’s presidential debate. (Grand Forks Herald, Grist)