‘The president’s utility’

‘THE PRESIDENT’S UTILITY’: The New York Times looks at Exelon Corporation’s high level of access to the White House, and whether the relationship has led to policies unfavorable to Exelon’s competitors.

CLIMATE: A spokesman for the Obama campaign says while climate change ​“clearly is something that is important to the administration,” it won’t figure prominently in the presidential campaign. (The Hill)

TRANSMISSION: MISO approves a scaled-down transmission upgrade plan for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, critics say the plan still unfairly burdens Wisconsin ratepayers. (Midwest Energy News)

ALSO: American Transmission Company calls on FERC to rehear a case that gave Xcel Energy part ownership of a segment of the CapX2020 project. (LaCrosse Tribune)

ETHANOL: A study from Purdue University finds suspending the ethanol mandate could cut food prices next year, and a biofuel producers group says the oil industry is driving efforts to cut ethanol quotas. (Washington Post, The Hill)

SOLAR: Rapid City-based Black Hills is ending a solar incentive program in Colorado, citing low natural gas prices; and an Ohio officials say solar manufacturer Willard & Kelsey is in default on a $5 million state loan. (Denver Post, Columbus Dispatch)

NUCLEAR: Crews begin applying a protective waterproof coating to the cracked shield building at the Davis-Besse nuclear plant in Ohio. (Toledo Blade)

WISCONSIN: A national electricity choice coalition files comments with the PSC, urging the state to deregulate its electricity markets. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

ANOTHER PLAN: Republican governors say the president has ​“failed to develop a sensible, comprehensive energy policy,” and unveil their own ​“Energy Blueprint for America.” (Politico)

MICHIGAN: How the town of Wyandotte got to 30 percent renewable energy. (Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION: GE says its developed the first railway locomotive that will meet 2015 emissions standards. (Reuters)

COMMENTARY: Michael Levi says Mitt Romney’s energy plan ​“overpromises on results while ignoring many of the biggest energy problems the United States faces,” Dawn Stover explains why water constraints give renewable energy an advantage, and Bloomberg offers a compromise on the wind tax credit. (Foreign Policy, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Bloomberg)