POLITICS: Led by West Virginia’s delegation, U.S. Senators who voted to block the Clean Power Plan have received millions in campaign contributions from the coal industry. (CNBC)

ALSO: A veteran Virginia congressman says the Obama administration is “not going to budge” on challenges to climate regulations. (E&E Daily)

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COAL: Jurors have still not reached a verdict in the trial of coal baron Don Blankenship. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)

EFFICIENCY: Tupelo, Mississippi expects to save $140,000 a year or more after efficiency upgrades to public buildings. (Tupelo Daily Journal)

PIPELINES: A judge dismisses trespassing charges against pipeline surveyors who entered private property without permission, noting Virginia law specifically grants them access. (Franklin News-Post)

OIL AND GAS: A hearing in Atlanta draws testimony on offshore drilling. (Savannah Morning News)

FRACKING: An EPA report finding no “widespread, systemic impacts” on drinking water from fracking is being challenged by the agency’s own scientists. (InsideClimate News)

CLIMATE: A bill in the U.S. Senate would revive a 1970s financing tactic to help promote carbon capture projects. (New York Times)

UTILITIES: 
• Duke Energy’s new control center in Charlotte manages the company’s renewable energy resources. (WSOC)
• As quickly as they became popular among utilities in response to load defection, increased fixed charges now appear to be on the way out. (Utility Dive)

TRANSMISSION: A University of Arkansas study says a proposed wind energy transmission line will have a $660 million impact on the state. (KUAR)

SOLAR: A Florida utility plans to offer community solar to its customers. (Pensacola News Journal)

WIND: The CEO of a company proposing a wind farm using an unconventional turbine design in Arkansas has served time in prison for embezzlement. (Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette)

NUCLEAR: Plant Vogtle in Georgia reaches several construction milestones. (PennEnergy)

POLLUTION: A Florida woman launches a class-action lawsuit against Volkswagen dealerships, saying she was misled on the cars’ emissions. (SaintPetersBlog)

COMMENTARY: A new industry study criticizing the Clean Power Plan, and frequently being cited by news media, is deeply flawed. (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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