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)

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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