OHIO: Gov. John Kasich says repeal of the state’s renewable energy standard is “off the table.” (Toledo Blade)

COAL:
• Researchers say Illinois coal mines could provide a cleaner energy source by accelerating natural methane production. (Midwest Energy News)
• A Michigan coal plant is shutting down after 75 years of operation. (MLive)

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SOLAR:
• Wisconsin regulators approve a Madison utility’s community solar program; background on the plan here. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Midwest Energy News archive)
A flood of community solar gardens is expected in the Twin Cities area. (St. Paul Pioneer Press)

WIND:
• A proposed Wisconsin project could break a five-year dry spell in wind development in the state. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• Three Michigan townships impose moratoriums on new wind development. (Port Huron Times Herald)
• A New York company is proposing to use third-party leasing to install small wind turbines throughout the Midwest. (Topeka Capital-Journal)

CLIMATE: Scientists say they can now confidently assess the role of climate change in extreme weather events. (InsideClimate News)

POLLUTION: Citing the Flint water crisis as an example, advocates in Michigan push the state’s attorney general to drop a legal action opposing EPA mercury rules. (Midwest Energy News)

FRACKING: An Ohio court rejects legal arguments for community “bill of rights” laws used to restrict drilling. (Athens News)

OIL AND GAS:
• A Detroit suburb files a lawsuit to block drilling on a church property in a residential area. (MLive)
• North Dakota is losing $90,000 a day in tax revenue as production continues to slow. (Forum News Service)
• Improperly sealed holes drilled for oil exploration in North Dakota are causing flood damage to farm fields. (Bismarck Tribune)
30,000 gallons of gasoline are released from a pipeline spill near Sioux City. (Sioux City Journal)

PIPELINES:
• Developers of a Bakken oil pipeline through Iowa say they’ve secured voluntary easements on 82 percent of impacted properties. (Des Moines Register)
• An Iowa lawmaker says he’ll sign a lease for the project, which runs through land his family has owned since 1878, now that it’s been approved by regulators. (Radio Iowa)

CLEAN ECONOMY: Rural Minnesota is seeing economic benefits from clean energy. (West Central Tribune)

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ELECTRIC CARS: For the first time, the Twin Cities auto show will have a room devoted to electric vehicles. (St. Paul Pioneer Press)

COMMENTARY: How the Clean Energy Accord can help boost Iowa’s economy. (NRDC Switchboard)

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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