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OHIO: Democratic lawmakers say testimony heard during the committee studying Ohio’s clean-energy freeze was generally “one-sided.” (Midwest Energy News)

ALSO: On utility “bailout” requests, the president of AEP — which is seeking similar power-purchase agreements as FirstEnergy — says he’s not concerned with a staff recommendation against the utilities. (Columbus Business First)

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OZONE: Clean-air advocates say business groups are crying wolf over an upcoming EPA ruling to reduce ground-level ozone levels. (Midwest Energy News)

COAL:
• The University of Notre Dame announces it will stop burning coal in response to Pope Francis’ call for action on climate change. (USA Today)
An industry group issues a report saying coal plants in Missouri are not harming air quality there, a position environmental advocates call “Orwellian.” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Jobs are at the heart of the debate over the future of Minnesota’s large Sherco coal plant. (Minnesota Public Radio)
Two Murray Energy subsidiaries are suing a mining union for workers’ alleged refusal to report unsafe working conditions to management. (Associated Press)
A judge will allow lyrics from John Prine’s “Paradise” to stay as part of a federal lawsuit against Peabody Energy. (Associated Press)

CLIMATE CHANGE: Two Midwest governors meet with top Chinese officials to cooperate on developing clean-tech businesses to combat climate change. (Associated Press)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Local officials in Minnesota are looking to accommodate drivers with more charging stations but struggle to figure out the right cost to charge them. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

POLITICS: Economists show that some pro-environmental policies cost residents more but land big gains on a county-wide basis, while other policies’ costs and gains are more evenly distributed — and the former tend to win out in Congress. (ClimateWire)

KEYSTONE XL: Hillary Clinton says she opposes the Keystone XL pipeline, calling it a “distraction” in the fight against climate change. (The Guardian)

FRACKING: More than 100 people turn out at a hearing to raise concerns about a proposed wastewater disposal well in western Nebraska. (Scottsbluff Star Herald)

VW POLLUTION CASE: A Chicago resident files a class-action lawsuit against the automaker. (Chicago Tribune)

OIL AND GAS: Advocates push North Dakota to get tough on flaring of natural gas from the state’s oil fields. (Grand Forks Herald)

REUSE: Developers in Columbus, Ohio are looking for a historic designation for an old power plant so they receive tax credits to redevelop it. (Columbus Business First)

MEDIA:
• The Associated Press updates its style guide, recommending writing “those who reject mainstream climate science” instead of “skeptics” or “deniers.”
• Coal company Murray Energy is suing Bloomberg, alleging it published trade secrets. (SNL Energy)

COMMENTARY:
• DTE Energy says a recent proposal to expand electric choice options to more Michigan entities would benefit few and cost many more. (Detroit News)
• A Catholic priest and a scientist agree: Listen to Pope Francis on climate change. (Detroit Free Press)
Neighbors around a We Energies coal plant in Wisconsin need answers to their health concerns. (Racine County Eye)

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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