U.N. climate diplomat warns coal needs to stay in the ground

CLIMATE: A top U.N. climate diplomat says most of the world’s coal needs to remain in the ground, and Secretary of State John Kerry says the U.S. is ​“absolutely committed” to cutting greenhouse gas emissions. (Associated Press, Politico)

ALSO: Critics say EPA requirements will slow development of carbon capture technology, and an American Electric Power executive says carbon rules ​“are putting the power (system) under considerable stress.” (Greenwire, Columbus Business First)

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POLICY: ALEC’s more targeted approach to weakening state renewable energy laws appears to be having little effect this year. (Greentech Media)

NUCLEAR: Exelon says it may have to close a Quad Cities nuclear plant unless it can raise electricity rates in Illinois. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

SOLAR: An Iowa rural co-op plans to build the state’s largest solar array, a Minnesota start-up develops software to evaluate rooftop solar potential, and an Illinois town takes another shot at building its own solar farm after rejecting a state grant. (Daily Iowan, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Chicago Tribune)

OHIO: An Ohio group will try again to get a measure on the ballot to provide $13 billion in state bonding over ten years for clean energy projects. (Columbus Dispatch)

FRACKING: Colorado will be the first state to limit methane emissions from natural gas operations, and an Illinois oil industry representative says the state regulatory process has ​“cast a chill” over leasing activity. (Bloomberg, Belleville News-Democrat)

OIL: North Dakota’s governor will form an advisory panel on pipeline safety; and the short-lived drilling boom in Kansas produced a few winners, but mostly losers. (Fargo Forum, Wichita Eagle)

NATURAL GAS: A Wisconsin utility says it will need a new power plant by 2019. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

WASTE-TO-ENERGY: An agreement between General Motors and Detroit Renewable Energy will use municipal waste to produce steam heat for a Detroit assembly plant. (CBS Detroit)

COMMENTARY: How ​“word games” leave the public misinformed about fracking. (Grist)