TRANSMISSION: Farmers and landowners gather in opposition to a proposed 500-mile transmission line to take wind energy eastward from Iowa. (Cedar Valley Business Monthly)

NATURAL GAS: State agency challenges latest Ohio town in court over drilling ban. Meanwhile, natural gas boom in Appalachia is ‘drowning out coal industry’s battle cries.’ (Midwest Energy News, Forbes)

BAKKEN: In North Dakota, regulatory oversight of oil and gas development ‘built on neighborly trust, verbal warnings and second chances.’ (New York Times)

POLITICS: Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s first reelection campaign commercial distills 10 years of fighting over coal plants into 30 seconds. (Chicago Reader)

RENEWABLES: In some markets, wind and solar is cheaper than natural gas and coal, while in the Southwest Power Pool, wind energy saved states $1.2 billion last year, a report finds. (New York Times, Associated Press)

BIOFUELS: Advocates ‘stumped’ as Obama administration steps away from renewable fuel mandate; fuel manufacturer group threatens to sue EPA. (Greenwire, The Hill)

ELECTRIC VEHICLE: Carmaker Audi plans to unveil a 300-mile electric car in January at Detroit auto show. (Gas2)

SECURITY: NSA director says cyberattackers have ability to penetrate infrastructure, including U.S. power grid. (EnergyWire)

PIPELINE: A Michigan utility says there is no immediate danger from a natural-gas pipeline incident over the weekend. (CBS Detroit)

MERGER: FERC approves merger of Pepco Holdings and Chicago-based Exelon, moving it closer to becoming mid-Atlantic’s largest electricity provider. (Washington Post)

DEMAND RESPONSE: Federal legislation would give FERC authority to mandate grid operators compensate consumers who reduce energy usage. (Albuquerque Business First)

COMMENTARY: Loan program for alternative energy startups is far from a ‘colossal failure.’ (The Capital Times)