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FRACKING: The Ohio Supreme Court rejects local ballot initiatives seeking to ban fracking in three counties. (Associated Press)

WISCONSIN: Residents speak out against a proposed rate structure change by Xcel that would increase monthly fixed charges and decrease the average rate for usage. (WEAU-TV)

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WIND:
• A local ruling calling wind turbines a health hazard in a small Wisconsin town could send shockwaves through the industry. (Greenwire)
Consumers Energy will buy power from a new 100 MW project planned in Michigan’s Thumb region. (MLive)
NASA may never complete a wind farm in Ohio because of the declining economics for renewables there. (Sandusky Register)
Researchers in Nebraska are developing turbines that could store excess energy generated and eliminate waste. (Phys.org.)

SOLAR:
• State regulators say it’s “just not prudent” for Xcel ratepayers in North Dakota to help pay for the utility’s solar projects in Minnesota. (Associated Press)
The federal government announces more than $100 million in grants for solar research and development. (Climate Central)
A new solar research and manufacturing facility is planned for southeast Michigan. (MLive)

PIPELINE: Iowa regulators will hold hearings in November on allowing eminent domain for the Bakken Pipeline project. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)

TRANSMISSION: Federal regulators clear the way for a Wisconsin co-op to begin rebuilding transmission lines through a wildlife refuge. (La Crosse Tribune)

COAL: Legislation passes the Wisconsin Senate that would ease the revenue losses for two Wisconsin cities following the closure of power plants. (Telegraph Herald)

CLIMATE POLICY: New research suggests incentives for developing clean energy may be more important than imposing a carbon tax or trading system. (ClimateWire)

OIL AND GAS: A Wisconsin company continues expanding its network of compressed natural gas stations around the country. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

NUCLEAR: A plant in southwest Michigan shuts down earlier than planned due to equipment failure. (MLive)

COMMENTARY:
• As residents do battle with major utilities, the clean-energy transition plays out differently in three cities. (Midwest Energy News)
A Michigan lawmaker says a plan to store radioactive waste from nuclear plants less than a half-mile from Lake Huron is a “really bad idea.” (MLive)

Andy compiles the Midwest Energy News digest and was a journalism fellow for Midwest Energy News from 2014-2020. He is managing editor of MiBiz in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and was formerly a reporter and editor at City Pulse, Lansing’s alternative newsweekly.

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