BP: Workers at BP’s Whiting refinery in Indiana have joined a nationwide strike against the company over unfair labor practices. (Midwest Energy News)

SOLAR: “No other technology is closer to transforming power markets than distributed and utility scale solar,” authors report in new study. (Forbes)

***SPONSORED LINK: Get something nice for energy geeks you love and yourself–Valentine’s Day is the extended Early Bird deadline for the CERTs 2015 Conference: Community-Driven Clean Energy on March 10-11 in St. Cloud! ***

FRACKING: Natural gas industry says Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s attempt to raise taxes on it will discourage investment in the state as the industry falters there. Also, a Texas fracking company is withdrawing from the state. (Columbus Post Dispatch, Columbus Business First)

OHIO: New chair of Ohio’s energy study committee has a record of opposing renewables and accepting campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry. (Midwest Energy News)

ALSO: Ohio’s EPA director gives state lawmakers a “bucket list” of objections to the national Clean Power Plan. (Midwest Energy News)

MICHIGAN: A Consumers Energy official says nine Consumers coal plants will close across the state and the utility will invest more in renewable energy and efficiency. (MLive)

RATEPAYERS: Prairie State Energy Campus in Illinois is at the center of rate hike disputes and legal action. (Associated Press)

KEYSTONE: With Congressional vote scheduled soon, Obama prepares for biggest veto in his presidency. (The Hill)

ETHANOL: Profit margins are thin for ethanol producers amid drop in oil prices. A rail line in Iowa that was the site of an ethanol derailment reopens, cleanup crews are yet to find elevated levels of ethanol in the Mississippi River and advocates renew calls for safety. (Minneapolis StarTribune, Reuters, Bismarck Tribune)

SHALE: The U.S. Coast Guard says a Texas company still faces hurdles before getting permission to haul shale extraction wastewater on the Ohio River. (EnergyWire)

CONGRESS: House Republicans are expected to release comprehensive energy legislation this week. (EnergyWire)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: A study released by the National Science Foundation finds that $1.05 billion in tax credits to encourage electric vehicle purchases could have been better spent on infrastructure. (Gas2)

COMMENTARY: The Michigan Public Service Commission should reject DTE Energy’s request to increase cost of LED lighting. (MLive)