Colorado playing both sides on Clean Power Plan

CLEAN POWER PLAN:
• Whether Colorado supports or opposes the Clean Power Plan depends on whether you ask the state’s governor or attorney general. (Denver Business Journal)
• A failure of the Clean Power Plan could undermine U.S. credibility in seeking global steps to mitigate climate change. (Mother Jones)

CLIMATE:
• In what critics dub a ​“fishing expedition,” a Texas congressman seeks the emails of NOAA scientists who published a study undercutting a popular climate denier talking point. (Washington Post)
• The Obama Administration is ramping up efforts to get the American public behind its goal for a strong global climate change deal in Paris in December. (The Hill)
• Here are the overriding issues expected to dominate the Paris climate talks. (Climate Central)
• Republicans attack Obama’s climate policies to paint a nation divided over any new global plan to cut emissions. (National Journal)

NUCLEAR:
• Nuclear power plant operators are dipping into funds set aside for eventual decommissioning to pay for on-site waste storage. (Associated Press)
• The Department of Energy cancels plans to ship nuclear waste to an Idaho facility from other states. (Reuters)
• While nuclear fusion remains a dream at this point, several start-up companies are trying to make it a reality. (New York Times)

SOLAR:
• Here’s how utilities are profiting from solar energy. (Motley Fool)
• Solar power is catching on with Nebraska farmers. (Lincoln Journal Star)
• Vermont utilities are close to reaching the state’s net metering cap. (Associated Press)

WIND: A Minnesota utility expects long-term contracts for wind power to beat out natural gas on price. (Bloomberg News)

COAL:
• Experts say a new report on the benefits of coal being published by the IEA is ​“deeply confused and deeply misleading.” (The Guardian)
• Coal production continues to decline in Colorado. (Colorado Spring Gazette)
• Why Montana’s Crow Nation is unique among Northwest tribes in its support of the coal industry. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

OIL AND GAS:
• Federal regulators approve the first permit to drill in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. (The Hill)
• Alaska’s governor drops a plan to tax natural gas left in the ground after producers agree to supply a state pipeline project. (Juneau Empire)
• A new analysis casts doubt on earlier optimistic projections by the industry and the state about oil and gas production in Ohio. (Midwest Energy News)
• Critics say a North Dakota panel made up of the state’s top officials continues to relax rules over natural gas flaring in favor of the industry. (Associated Press)

UTILITIES:
• Duke Energy says it has reached an agreement buy Piedmont Natural Gas for $4.9 billion. (Wall Street Journal)
• Exelon hints it may walk away from its proposed Pepco buyout if D.C. regulators don’t act quickly enough. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

TECHNOLOGY:
• There are signs the energy storage industry is ready to scale up. (New York Times)
• Tesla says its Nevada ​“gigafactory” should begin producing batteries next year. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

POLITICS:
• Rep. Paul Ryan, the leading contender to be the next Speaker of the House, is a major recipient of energy sector donations, with Koch Industries among his top contributors. (E&E Daily)
• A Long Island Republican activist explains why he’s spending millions to fight climate change. (Grist)

COMMENTARY: A Republican congressman from South Florida says climate change shouldn’t be a partisan issue. (Miami Herald)