OVERSIGHT: The EPA finalizes a rule that will reclassify some sources of air pollution under the Clean Air Act, allowing them to avoid tougher emissions controls. (The Hill)

ALSO:
• President Trump issues an executive order seeking to invoke the 1950 Defense Production Act to boost domestic mining following a visit to Minnesota’s Iron Range. (The Hill)
• Trump’s plan to allow seismic blasting to locate oil deposits off the Atlantic Coast appears dead after a court decision Thursday. (Washington Post)

UTILITIES: Advocates say clamping down on “dark money” political spending is a way to prevent future scandals similar to the scheme that unfolded around Ohio’s power plant bailout law. (Eye on Ohio / Energy News Network)

COAL:
• Critics question the ethics of Wyoming sending taxpayer funds to a dark-money organization that promotes the coal industry. (WyoFile)
• Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette says the Colstrip power plant in Montana is a “very important facility to us” ahead of a visit today. (KTVQ)
• Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration continues to approve coal projects despite its clean energy promises. (Chicago Tribune)

SOLAR:
• Illinois regulators call an emergency hearing as Ameren asserts that it will soon stop compensating net metering customers at full retail rates based on the growing amount of distributed generation capacity. (Utility Dive)
• A coalition of solar advocates say a provision in a pending Massachusetts law allowing utility ownership of projects will drive out independent solar installers. (Solar Power World)
• An Alabama federal court rejects a lawsuit from environmental groups alleging that new rates set by the Tennessee Valley Authority discourage solar power use. (Law360, subscription)
• California’s solar energy output dropped considerably in August and September  due to severe wildfire smoke. (Greentech Media)

NUCLEAR: The owners of New Jersey’s nuclear power plants apply to state regulators for three more years of annual $300 million subsidies. (NJ Spotlight)

POLITICS:
• Young conservative climate activists are considering voting against President Trump as a protest to pressure Republicans on the issue. (Scientific American)
• Experts analyze the details of Joe Biden’s climate plan, contrasting it with Trump’s policies of expanding fossil fuel use. (CNBC)
• Analysts say Biden could have some influence over oil production in the U.S. as president, but the market will be a larger driving force. (InsideClimate News)
• Major environmental groups launch a “Green Wave 2020” effort to support congressional candidates. (The Hill)

WIND: Experts say larger wind turbines could lead to fewer bird strikes. (Greentech Media)

COMMENTARY:
• A Rocky Mountain Institute analyst says that California should have enough electricity to power the full electrification of vehicles in the state. (Los Angeles Times)
• U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette says tougher state restrictions on pipelines in New England threaten reliability in the region. (MassLive)

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.