Federal report says oil and gas train derailments could top 10 per year

NUCLEAR: Illinois may be nuclear power’s ​“short-term ground zero” as the industry looks to make a comeback nationwide. (Climate Central)

SOLAR: Clean-energy advocates in Minnesota respond to utility Xcel Energy’s complaints against the state’s community solar program. (Midwest Energy News)

*** SPONSORED LINK: This is the last week to pre-register for the CERTs 2015 Conference: Community-Driven Clean Energy on Mar. 10-11 in St. Cloud. Join hundreds of Minnesotans to help build our clean energy future! ***

OIL TRANSPORT: A federal report says oil-train derailments could happen 10 times a year over the next two decades as quantities being transported increase. (Associated Press)

COAL ASH: Utility Duke Energy is charged over a major coal-ash spill from a year ago in North Carolina. (New York Times)

CIVIL RIGHTS: Activists in Flint, Michigan are upset that the EPA has not responded to civil rights claims filed in the ​’90s against a wood-fired power plant. (Greenwire)

OHIO: U.S. energy secretary is impressed by First Solar’s manufacturing plant in Toledo. (Toledo Blade)

CLIMATE: New documents shed light on the extent to which a well-known researcher accepted money from corporate interests to cast doubt on climate change. (New York Times)

ALSO: EPA administrator is ​“looking closely” at utilities’ concerns about timelines for complying with proposed CO2 rules and Kansas lawmakers seek to delay or stop the new rules. (Climate Central, ClimateWire, Associated Press)

FRACKING: University of Michigan researchers outline policy options for tightening the state’s fracking regulations. In Ohio, a state Supreme Court justice suggests links between public policy and oil and gas donations. (Associated Press, Columbus Dispatch)

FRAC SAND: A Minnesota county moves closer to becoming the first county in the state to ban frac-sand mining. (Minneapolis StarTribune)

OIL: Exxon Mobil appeals $1 million penalty over Yellowstone River oil spill. The oil boom in North Dakota is leading to diversity and shifts in local school districts. (Associated Press, Bismarck Tribune)

MICHIGAN: Ann Arbor’s Public Housing Commission invests in energy efficiency, solar projects at public housing structures. (MLive)

RFS: An EPA official vows to industry groups to revive the federal Renewable Fuel Standard. (Greenwire)

EV: Chrysler and Jaguar prepare to bring new electric vehicle designs to market. (Cleantechnica, Electric Vehicle News)

COMMENTARY: Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s plan for increasing severance taxes on oil and gas drillers is a step in the right direction. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)