PIPELINES: Iowa regulators deny a request to stop construction of the Dakota Access pipeline amid eminent domain concerns; developers say the project is already 22 percent complete in the state. (Radio Iowa, Des Moines Register)

UTILITIES:
• An Ohio utility is the latest to propose a significant increase in the fixed portion of customer bills, which advocates say will discourage solar and efficiency. (Midwest Energy News)
• Shareholders will vote next month on Great Plains Energy’s proposed acquisition of Westar. (Topeka Capital-Journal)

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BIOFUELS: Biofuel supporters criticize a new study questioning the climate benefits of renewable fuels, noting the work was funded in part by an oil industry group. (MLive)

SOLAR:
• An Iowa rural co-op expands its unique solar installation business to help neighboring co-ops develop their own projects. (Midwest Energy News)
• A 20 MW solar project will be the largest in Ohio as the state’s developers look forward to the expiration of a “freeze” in state clean energy standards. (Toledo Blade)
• An Iowa county is installing solar panels on public buildings. (KCRG)

WIND: Developers of a planned Ohio wind farm consider a switch to more efficient turbines. (reNews)

RENEWABLE ENERGY: Renewables are producing more power than ever, surpassing levels of previous years in every month of 2016, according to the Energy Department. (Greentech Media)

COAL: Indiana regulators approve a deal allowing Duke Energy to increase rates to help pay for cost overruns at a coal gasification plant. (Indianapolis Star)

CLIMATE: Advocates in Madison, Wisconsin seek more public involvement in the city’s climate plan. (Madison Commons)

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VW: Volkswagen reaches a settlement with U.S. dealers over its diesel emissions scandal. (MLive)

COMMENTARY:
• The Dakota Access pipeline controversy is “a familiar story in Indian Country.” (New York Times)
• Could a lithium shortage derail the electric car boom? (Oilprice.com)

Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy, and has led the project from its inception as Midwest Energy News in 2009. 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 held a variety of editing, production, and leadership roles, and played a key role in the newspaper's transition to digital-first publishing. 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.

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