Pentagon warns climate change is a global security threat

COAL: A report finds FirstEnergy’s focus on coal ​“has not been a winning strategy.” (Midwest Energy News)

ALSO: Advocate Jeff Biggers says southern Illinois can transition to a clean energy economy. (Carbondale Southern Illinoisan)

***SPONSORED LINK: Join us at the Wisconsin Energy Institute: ​“Global Energy Outlook” on Oct. 29 as we bring together experts from around the world to discuss the energy, water and food challenges presented by growing urban environments.***

CLIMATE:
• The Pentagon warns that climate change is a global security threat. (New York Times)
• The winner of a 2014 Nobel Prize for economics argues for carbon caps. (Greenwire)
• Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan says he’s still skeptical about climate change. (Associated Press)
• Minnesota officials release a county-by-county breakdown of climate change impacts. (Minnesota Public Radio)

POLITICS: Joni Ernst, a candidate for Iowa’s U.S. Senate seat, says the EPA should be eliminated, and the ​“green conservative” movement continues to build. (Politico, PRI)

WISCONSIN: A new sustainability report says Wisconsin is making progress on biodigesters but falling behind on other renewable energy. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

BAKKEN: North Dakota officials announce plans for a $4 billion chemical plant to process natural gas byproducts, but it won’t be built in the Oil Patch. (Bismarck Tribune)

PIPELINES: A Minnesota town’s Chamber of Commerce calls on state regulators to speed up approval of the Sandpiper pipeline. (BusinessNorth)

BIOFUELS: Biofuel industry officials say EPA indecision on the renewable fuel mandate has ​“put us in suspended animation.” (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

SOLAR: A survey finds utilities can cut solar costs for customers by streamlining the interconnection process. (Greentech Media)

COMMENTARY: ​“No credible analysis shows that freezing, weakening, or rolling back Ohio’s clean energy standards will save consumers money,” and ​“we should not blindly create policy” in Wisconsin. (Union of Concerned Scientists, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)