LaHood calls Wisconsin oil spill ​‘completely unacceptable’

OIL: Calling last week’s spill in Wisconsin ​“completely unacceptable,” the U.S. Department of Transportation denied permission for Enbridge to restart a major oil pipeline Tuesday. (Reuters)

WIND: The Romney campaign’s opposition to extending wind tax credits isn’t sitting well with Iowa Republicans - Gov. Terry Branstad used the opportunity to criticize both Romney and Obama for not recognizing the state’s wind industry ​“success story that is years in the making,” while Sen. Chuck Grassley posited that the campaign misspoke, ​“because [Romney] was over in Poland, he obviously wasn’t thinking about wind energy.” (Des Moines Register, The Hill)

MEANWHILE: FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff warns allowing the production tax credit to expire ​“could have a devastating effect” on the wind industry. (The Hill)

ALSO: A new study identifies locations across the northern Great Plains where wind turbines could be sited without significantly impacting wildlife habitat. (Greenwire)

BIOFUELS: As the summer’s heat puts the squeeze on corn farmers, researchers in Illinois are trying to unlock genetic secrets that could lead to more drought-tolerant biofuel crops. (Midwest Energy News)

COAL: An annual survey finds U.S. emissions of CO2 and other pollutants are falling as utilities switch from coal to natural gas; Midwest Generation, which operates six coal plants in Illinois, may file for bankruptcy; and NASCAR racer Dale Earnhardt, Jr. becomes a pitchman for ​“clean coal.” (Forbes, Chicago Tribune, Politico)

NATURAL GAS: Purdue University nears final approval for its plan to switch from coal to natural gas, and a utility that opted out of a Chicago coal-to-gas plant files for a rate increase. (Lafayette Journal & Courier, Chicago Tribune)

ETHANOL: Two of the largest ethanol producers in the U.S. reported lower earnings Tuesday. (Des Moines Register)

OIL SANDS: While the industry insists ​“dilbit” - the heavy crude from Canada’s oil sands that spilled from a Michigan pipeline two years ago - is no different than conventional crude, U.S. tax law has a different view. (InsideClimate News)

FRACKING: A poll finds 2/3 of Ohioans know very little, or nothing at all, about shale gas drilling. (Columbus Business First)

SOLAR: A suburban St. Louis district plans to install solar panels on five schools this year. (St. Louis Suburban Journals)

COMMENTARY: Grist’s David Roberts says Michigan’s decision on expanding its renewable energy standard is the most important clean-energy vote this year, and the Bismarck Tribune says a new assessment of North Dakota’s shale reserves justifies investment in capturing natural gas instead of flaring it.