Illinois governor vetoes Chicago coal-to-gas plant bill

COAL: Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed a bill Friday that would have required customers of two utilities to cover 95 percent of the costs of a proposed Chicago coal-to-gas plant, saying the plan ​“is not a fair deal for ratepayers.” (Springfield State Journal-Register)

FRAC SAND: A Minnesota legislator wants the state to play a bigger role in studying the potential impact of expanded frac sand mining. (Midwest Energy News)

POLITICS: Mitt Romney’s selection of Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate sharpens the contrast between the two parties on energy issues, and Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley says after a conference call with the Romney campaign, the candidate ​“didn’t seem to be backing down” on his opposition to the wind tax credit. (Politico, Quad City Times)

MICHIGAN: A Michigan State University study finds a ballot measure to expand the state’s renewable energy standard, if approved, could spark the creation of more than 74,000 jobs; meanwhile, the state’s current standard has led to substantial growth of wind energy in the state. (Detroit News)

ALSO: Michigan manufacturers of wind turbine components, as in the rest of the U.S., are ​“on the edge of a cliff” amid uncertainty over federal tax credits. (Detroit Free Press)

DEEP QUESTIONS:

• Is the era of oil coming to an end? (McClatchy)
• How many clean energy jobs did the stimulus create? (McClatchy)
• Would North Dakota still have a budget surplus without the oil boom? (Fargo Forum)

HYDRO: Despite the drought, dams along the Missouri River are producing more electricity than normal thanks to abundant rain and snow last year. (USA Today)

GRID: Ohio utilities say abundant supply and lower demand have kept the power flowing despite record heat this summer. (Toledo Blade)

NUCLEAR: Another cooling system leak shuts down a Michigan nuclear plant for the second time since June. (Kalamazoo Gazette)

TRANSPORTATION: Researchers at a Tennessee university invent a kit that can convert a conventional car into a hybrid for as little as $3,000 by attaching hub-mounted electric motors to the back wheels. (Green Car Report) 

COMMENTARY: The Cedar Rapids Gazette says ​“it’s just too soon” to end tax credits for wind energy.