CLEAN POWER PLAN: President Obama says “we are very firm in terms of the legal footing here” on the Clean Power Plan. (The Hill)

ALSO:
• Legal experts emphasize the Supreme Court’s decision “is only a pause.” (SNL Energy)
• Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton says the Supreme Court’s stay “does nothing to diminish our resolve” on clean energy. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
• An Indiana utility will “continue moving forward” with planned carbon reductions despite the stay. (Indiana Public Media)
• Iowa’s rural co-ops “are supportive of putting everything on hold.” (Radio Iowa)

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EFFICIENCY: A project in Michigan could help overcome some of the financial barriers to energy upgrades in rental housing. (Midwest Energy News)

CLIMATE: Minnesota activists target U.S. Bank for supporting the fossil fuel industry. (Midwest Energy News)

PIPELINES: Iowa regulators still have not reached a decision on a proposed Bakken oil pipeline through the state. (Des Moines Register)

UTILITIES:
• Minnesota regulators reject a utility’s proposal to cut rates for large industrial customers. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
• Exelon has already spent $259 million pursuing its proposed merger with Pepco. (Washington Business Journal)
• An Ohio utility unveils its new TV ad promoting its income guarantee plan for power plants. (Columbus Business First)

COAL: Peabody Energy still sees bright spots amid a “brutal industry backdrop.” (SNL Energy)

SOLAR: An Iowa utility had to increase the size of its solar garden due to customer demand. (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier)

FRACKING:
• Ohio lawmakers say now is not the time to increase severance taxes on drilling. (WKSU)
• Bills in the Michigan legislature would temporarily halt fracking and require chemical disclosure. (MLive)
• Detroit residents are concerned the city will become a dumping ground for hazardous drilling waste. (MLive)

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AGRICULTURE: A seminar in southern Illinois highlights the benefits of renewable energy and efficiency for farms. (Carbondale Southern Illinoisan)

COMMENTARY: The Supreme Court’s Clean Power Plan decision “has temporarily put polluter profits first, while putting the rest of us at risk.” (NRDC Switchboard)

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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