EPA: The EPA proposes tougher limits on emissions in states that impact their downwind neighbors, and may exempt Florida and South Carolina from the rule. (Associated Press) 

POLITICS:
• In a largely symbolic gesture, the Senate votes to strike down President Obama’s two most far-reaching emission reduction rules. (New York Times)
• Advocates file two more ballot initiatives to advance clean energy policy in Oregon. (Portland Business Journal)

CLIMATE: 
• The Bureau of Land Management postpones an auction of oil and gas leases on federal land in Utah because of a high level of interest from climate advocates. (Deseret News)
• A new report outlines areas of the U.S. where the grid is most at risk from climate change. (Utility Dive)

COAL: A new report finds it “increasingly likely” that global coal consumption peaked in 2013. (InsideClimate News)

SOLAR:
• The White House announces an initiative to promote community solar. (USA Today)
• Amid industry criticism, the Massachusetts House advances a bill cutting the rate solar customers are paid for excess electricity. (MassLive)
• Advocates criticize Berkshire Hathaway for backing policies they say hinder solar development. (Omaha World-Herald)

WIND:
• Developers of a transmission line aimed at moving wind power from western Iowa to Illinois and points east have hit a stalemate with opposed landowners. (Midwest Energy News)
North Dakota regulators will likely approve a new 100-megawatt wind project there, but federal officials want a deeper study on potential impacts on bald eagles. (Associated Press)
A Vermont town votes to reject a proposed wind farm. (Vermont Public Radio)

UTILITIES:
After receiving permission for an 83 percent fixed-fee increase on customers last year, a Wisconsin utility is back for more. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• Why the grid of the future will depend on “distributed decision-making.” (Greentech Media)
• Experts say time-of-use rates and crediting distributed solar customers at wholesale rather than retail rates can send important price signals to prevent peak demand spikes. (Utility Dive)

TECHNOLOGY: The future of the auto industry is taking shape in California. (Los Angeles Times)

COMMENTARY:
• Advocates debunk another study claiming high costs from the Clean Power Plan. (The Equation)
• Why political fighting over the “war on coal” actually does a disservice to the coal industry. (New York Times)

 

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Ken Paulman

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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