EPA:
• The EPA releases a tougher limit on smog-causing ozone, but falls short of a higher standard recommended by health exports. (New York Times) 
• The new standard left some businesses relieved and environmental and health leaders upset the initiative wasn’t stronger. (Wall Street Journal)

CLEAN POWER PLAN:
•  A clean-energy expert says renewable energy standards remain a powerful tool for states to comply with the federal plan. (Midwest Energy News)
• Industry experts say carbon capture isn’t yet a viable option for states to comply, even though federal rules would allow it. (Columbus Business First)
• Leaders of a legislative panel tasked with drafting Kansas’ state compliance plan reject climate science and would rather overturn the CPP. (Lawrence Journal-World)

CLIMATE:
• California regulators prepare to tackle black carbon, methane and other climate pollutants. (ClimateWire)
• Utah researchers develop a new carbon capture technology, which essentially freezes CO2 before it enters the air. (KSL)
• Montana real estate agents study the impact of climate change on home purchases. (Missoulian)

COAL:
• An analysis finds half the world’s coal production isn’t profitable. (Bloomberg)
• An Ohio senator says legislation he’s proposed would cut a “claims backlog” and prevent the denial of benefits for miners with black lung disease. (Civitas Media)
• More than 200 retired miners, wives and widows in Indiana would lose money set aside for health care coverage as part of a coal company bankruptcy. (ProPublica)
• Miners’ families and the media are blocked from witnessing jury selection in trial of West Virginia coal baron Don Blankenship. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)

PIPELINES:
• ExxonMobil is fined $2.6 million for safety violations that led to the Mayflower pipeline spill in Arkansas. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
• New federal rules include more rigorous inspections and increased use of leak detection systems. (Associated Press)
• A federal judge rules Virginia landowners cannot block a utility from surveying their property for a proposed pipeline. (Associated Press)

OIL AND GAS:
• Producers hope curbing early production in new wells can make them financially viable for longer periods. (Bloomberg)
• Residents of a rural enclave in suburban Denver say they feel powerless to stop an impending drilling boom. (Colorado Statesman)

SOLAR:
• The utility serving Austin, Texas gets approval to pursue a 300 MW solar contract. (Austin Statesman)
• An Oregon utility offers customers shares of a solar project starting at $5 per month. (KGW)
• New Hampshire cuts solar rebates. (New Hampshire Public Radio)

WIND: Job growth in wind energy continues to outpace many industries. (CNBC)

TRANSMISSION: A Wisconsin transmission company looks to the Last Frontier to expand its business. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

EFFICIENCY: The next generation of LED lighting has systems that gather, analyze and respond to data that is collected. (Greenwire)

COMMENTARY: The EPA’s new ozone standard is a step forward in improving public health. (Southern Environmental Law Center)