WIND: Researchers have developed what they say is the most detailed and accurate resource for determining offshore wind availability in the Great Lakes. (Midwest Energy News)

FRACKING:
• The new owners of an Ohio company say it is mothballing waterless fracking development. (Columbus Business First)
• A company is fined $223,000 for its responsibility in a well blowout and fire in Ohio last year that contaminated a stream and forced some residents to evacuate. (Columbus Dispatch)

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SOLAR: Minnesota-based Xcel Energy will again ask regulators for the ability to pass on some solar project costs to the utility’s North Dakota customers. (Associated Press)

OHIO: A renewable energy group voices support for AEP’s “bailout” plan if it includes supply contracts for 1,000 MW of renewable energy. (Columbus Business First)

PIPELINE: The Minnesota Appeals Court sides with “essentially all” of the arguments environmental groups made in halting the Sandpiper project while an environmental review is done. (MinnPost)

OIL AND GAS:
• The U.S. House is preparing to vote by the end of the month on lifting the crude export ban. (New York Times)
• Republicans are looking for “middle ground” in order to build enough Democratic support so President Obama would sign the bill. (E&E Daily)
• Still, the White House opposes the plan and doesn’t think it’s a decision that should be made by Congress. (Associated Press)

ALSO: Officials say the federal government lacks the resources needed to inspect high-risk oil and gas wells on federal land. (Associated Press)

CLEAN POWER PLAN: A Minnesota lawmaker wants Gov. Mark Dayton to join neighboring states in opposing the federal plan, in part because it wouldn’t give enough credit for the state’s emission reductions already made. (Minnesota Public Radio)

TRANSMISSION: A look inside the operations center of Wisconsin-based ATC, where operators can see demand spikes during halftime of football games. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

NUCLEAR: A nuclear plant in Michigan has been shut down after problems with its cooling system were discovered. (CBS Detroit)

COAL:
• Leading mining company Arch Coal is inching closer to bankruptcy court as it seeks to restructure its debts. (Bloomberg News)
• Ending coal burning at Michigan State University shows a commitment to sustainability, a school official says. (MLive)

CLIMATE:
• Researchers say suburbs and a lack of green transportation mean dense cities will not necessarily cause a drop in per capita carbon emissions. (Scientific American)
• Leaders from U.S. and Chinese cities will pledge today to make significant carbon emission reductions ahead of climate negotiations in December. (ClimateWire)

BIOFUELS: Michigan State University’s anaerobic digester research is meant to not only generate renewable energy for the school, but also support industry growth statewide and internationally. (MLive)

COMMENTARY:
• Environmental advocates say the push to end Michigan’s renewable and efficiency standards is driven by ideology, not proven success. (Bridge Magazine)
• Consumers Energy says Michigan needs to move to a fully regulated market and make sure net metering customers “pay their fair share.” (MLive)