UTILITIES:
• The U.S. Supreme Court rules against Maryland’s program to subsidize new natural gas plants, saying it interferes with federal authority to regulate rates. (Bloomberg)
• The decision could have broader implications on other cases, including Ohio utilities’ efforts to guarantee incomes for some power plants. (Columbus Dispatch)

CONGRESS: The Senate is expected to vote soon on a bipartisan energy bill that includes provision to promote storage and grid modernization. (Washington Post)

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CLIMATE:
• 2016 is already setting new records for high temperatures. (New York Times)
• The Federal Highway Administration is considering measures that would account for carbon pollution reductions in local and state transportation projects. (ClimateWire)
A recently-formed caucus led by two House members from Florida holds its first meeting today to discuss carbon pricing. (E&E Daily)
Federal filings show North Carolina conservative philanthropist Jay Faison is slow to attract donations to advocate for his pursuit of a cleaner energy future. (Charlotte Business Journal)

SOLAR:
• Utilities and solar companies in New York proposes a compromise on net metering. (Politico)
• A Missouri appellate court rules against a homeowner whose neighborhood association ordered him to remove solar panels from his house. (St. Joseph News-Press)
• A Florida utility delays a decision on how to credit rooftop solar owners for excess power pending the outcome of a utility-backed ballot measure. (Florida Times-Union) 

OIL AND GAS:
• Advocates in Pennsylvania seek a review of a drilling company’s practices after an executive says in a speech that they avoid siting projects near wealthy homeowners. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Exports from a Louisiana natural gas terminal may help prevent prices from bottoming out again. (Bloomberg)
• Oil producers in Texas and New Mexico push to limit imports. (Associated Press)
• Developers of a proposed Oregon export terminal seek support from industry backers in Colorado. (Grand Junction Daily Sentinel)

COAL: Federal data show how fast coal production is declining in the U.S. (Washington Post)

COAL ASH: Danville, Virginia is to receive $2.4 million under a settlement with Duke Energy over the utility’s massive 2014 ash spill. (The Register-Bee)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: A Minnesota study challenges claims that electric vehicles are no better for the climate than gasoline cars, finding significantly lower emissions based on the state’s energy mix. (Midwest Energy News)

ADVOCACY: The Sierra Club’s “Beyond Dirty Fuels” campaign aims to build on the organizations successes fighting to shut down coal plants. (SNL Energy)

COMMENTARY:
• How utilities and solar companies can avoid expensive fights over net metering. (Greentech Media)
• Why utilities should be promoting electric cars to consumers. (Utility Dive)

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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