OIL & GAS: As many as 250 oil companies could file for bankruptcy this year, with concerns that taxpayers will be stuck with millions of dollars in cleanup costs. (New York Times)

ALSO:
• The academic whose report helped spur Pennsylvania’s fracking boom says several mistakes were made by industry and political leaders that resulted in a recent scathing grand jury report. (StateImpact Pennsylvania)
• An oil producing area in northern Colorado will have to comply with EPA smog rules for the Denver metro area after a federal court ruling last week. (Greeley Tribune)
• The CEO of an oil and gas company accused of shorting Oklahoma’s land office on royalty payments is being recommended by the governor to serve as the new head of that state agency. (Oklahoman) 

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CLEAN ENERGY:
• A FERC decision on Friday is expected to boost grid-scale energy storage by treating battery projects similar to power plants. (The Hill)
• The Sierra Club criticizes plans by Ohio State University to build a new natural gas-powered combined heat and power plant, saying renewable energy options should be explored further. (Energy News Network)

POLICY: Clean energy and consumer advocates raise concerns about extensive redactions in a public report commissioned by the Kansas legislature that’s meant to help guide future energy decisions. (Energy News Network)

COAL:
• Powder River Basin coal companies hoping to export to Asia are now doubtful in the wake of Japan’s announcement it is considering phasing out 100 of its older coal-fired power plant units by 2030. (Casper-Star Tribune)
• Three environmental groups sue West Virginia regulators in an effort to force the state to maintain a fund to clean up abandoned coal mines. (Gazette-Mail)

NUCLEAR: A geologist finds water is moving through Nevada’s Yucca Mountain faster than previously thought, raising more concerns about the proposed plan to build a national nuclear waste repository there. (KUNR)

SOLAR: Solar developers and conservationists spar over new rules in Massachusetts meant to protect forest land but that hinder new large-scale projects. (Boston Globe)

UTILITIES: Rural electric cooperative revenue has taken a hit during the pandemic due to reduced demand from large users and a higher number of customers being unable to pay. (Reuters)

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ELECTRIFICATION: An Oklahoma gas company creates a website promoting cooking with natural gas as clean energy groups elsewhere promote electrification. (Oklahoman)

COMMENTARY: A Washington Post editorial credits Democrats for “listening to scientists on the level of ambition needed” to address climate change.

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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.