January 28, 2012
>> TOP STORY
Controversial Iowa nuclear proposal is revived
>> Des Moines Register
A legislative proposal outlining steps for Mid-American Energy to build an Iowa nuclear plant — one of last year’s most controversial bills — was resurrected, tweaked and approved in a bipartisan vote Thursday by a three-person Senate subcommittee.
>> MORE NEWS
Local officials tell N.D. lawmakers about oil boom problems
>> Associated Press
City, county and school officials spoke to the North Dakota Legislature’s interim energy committee on Thursday, asking lawmakers to support more state aid for western North Dakota’s oil-producing region.
FutureGen takes $2.8 million loss on sale of first coal plant site
>> Springfield State Journal-Register
The FutureGen Alliance has sold the original site of a clean-coal project near Mattoon for $700,000 after paying $3.5 million for the property in 2008.
Ohio wind farm proceeding, but construction delayed
>> Mansfield News Journal
The company behind a north central Ohio wind farm says the project is moving forward, but not as fast as it hoped. Construction will be delayed at least a year from the original start date, the company confirmed Thursday.
FirstEnergy says it will close four Ohio coal plants this year
>> Cleveland Plain Dealer
Obama’s energy blueprint: Will Congress go along?
>> InsideClimate News
North Dakota, EPA close to resolution over park haze rules
>> Fargo Forum
Wisconsin county officials want payments for wind health claims
>> Green Bay Press Gazette
Jobs vs. environment dominates debate over Indiana coal plant
>> Evansville Courier & Press
>> TOP FEATURE
For U.S. wind industry, a storm before the calm
>> Midwest Energy News
The wind industry continued to expand in 2011, but industry officials said the momentum is likely to come to an abrupt halt if a crucial tax incentive is allowed to expire this year.
Photo by bevknits via Creative Commons
>> MORE FEATURES
Indiana’s bet on electric car manufacturing looking like a bust
>> Chicago Tribune
Indiana’s foray into electric vehicles is a cautionary tale for states in hot pursuit of high-tech manufacturing jobs.
Residents of ‘EVTown’ in Illinois kick tires at electric car show
>> Bloomington Pantagraph
Hundreds turned out for the “EVening of EVs” show in Normal, Illinois, milling about the cars and chatting with vendors representing everything from charging stations to electric bicycles.
Oil and gas industry would like to see the word ‘fracking’ retired
>> Associated Press
A different kind of F-word is stirring a linguistic and political debate as controversial as what it defines.
cyenobite via Creative Commons
Michigan DOT to install solar panels at Grand Rapids park-and-ride lot
>> Grand Rapids Press
North Dakota approves oil waste processing plant over objections
>> Bismarck Tribune
Minnesota project to combine wind, solar energy
>> Minneapolis Star Tribune
After 20 years, North Dakota coal mine to be returned to farming
>> Bismarck Tribune
>> SIGN UP FOR DAILY EMAIL DIGEST
>> FROM THE HIGHWIRE BLOG
Dispatches from the oil boom
There’s been plenty of press about how North Dakota’s oil boom is affecting long-time residents of the area, but most of us know little about the day-to-day life of the thousands of workers who have flocked to the state to work in the oil fields.
>> FEATURED OPINION
Roger Kerson: Chevy Volt as ‘political punching bag’
>> The Future of Cars
It’s much easier, it turns out, to set a Congressman’s hair on fire than it is to ignite a Chevy Volt.
>> MORE OPINION
Analysis: The press and the pipeline
>> Media Matters for America
Curtis Brainard: Keystone XL job numbers bewilder media
>> Columbia Journalism Review
Editorial: Startling numbers from North Dakota’s oil patch
>> Fargo Forum
