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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)
***SPONSORED LINK: Hear top executives from the area’s RTOs, utilities, transmission developers, and state regulatory agencies discuss and debate critical issues at EUCI’s Transmission Expansion in the Midwest conference November 9-10 in Indianapolis.***
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)