UTILITIES: Xcel Energy, which serves both Minnesota and North Dakota, seeks to separate resource decisions for the two states. (Electric Light & Power)

EFFICIENCY: After significantly scaling back its efficiency efforts, an Ohio utility is moving forward with a new plan that includes key changes sought by advocates. (Midwest Energy News)

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NATURAL GAS: Two more gas-fired power plants are proposed in Ohio, making a total of 10 currently under development. (Columbus Business First)

SOLAR: A 7 MW solar project on a former Superfund site in Indiana is now online. (Inside Indiana Business)

TRANSMISSION: Opponents of a wind energy transmission line in Iowa are emboldened by developers’ withdrawal of a permit application, but expect the fight to continue. (Grundy Register)

NUCLEAR: The Cook nuclear plant in Michigan is back online after a refueling outage and problems with backup generators. (Associated Press)

PIPELINES:
• How the mood has changed at the Dakota Access Pipeline protest camp in North Dakota. (NPR)
• A federal grand jury is looking into a violent November clash between pipeline opponents and officers in North Dakota, in which protesters say a woman was injured by a grenade thrown by police. (Associated Press)
• North Dakota regulators fine a company $7,500 for being unable to locate underground pipelines. (Bismarck Tribune)

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CLIMATE: A small group of Republicans are trying to refute the idea that the GOP consistently denies climate change. (The Atlantic)

COMMENTARY:
• Ohio Gov. John Kasich remains consistent in his priorities, which is upsetting fossil fuel backers. (Athens News)
• Why advocates in Madison, Wisconsin give their local utility a D+. (Capital Times)
• Efficiency should be a larger part of Indiana’s energy conversation, to “appeal to our hardheaded Hoosier business sense.” (Journal Gazette)
• A recent Ohio decision is a mixed bag for clean energy. (Environmental Defense Fund)
• Why federal policy is still critical for decarbonizing the economy. (Vox)

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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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