Fracking divides red, blue states

FRACKING:
• Fracking is creating a new dividing line between red and blue states, with the affiliation of a state’s legislature and governor often reflected in whether the practice is welcome or shunned. (The Hill)
• The EPA’s acknowledgment that fracking has contaminated some drinking water marks a notable reversal for the agency. (InsideClimate News)

NUCLEAR: The U.S. Department of Energy announced Friday awards of more than $60 million in research funding for 68 projects around the country to encourage scientific breakthroughs that help nuclear power. (The Hill)

DRILLING: Oil and gas drillers retired four more oil rigs last week, marking 26 consecutive weeks of slowing activity among drillers. (FuelFix)

COAL: Norway’s Parliament voted Friday to divest its $890 billion government pension fund from coal, which could impact U.S. oil companies. (The New York Times)

TRANSITION: The tide is turning against the Legislative Exchange Council in the renewable energy battle, as illustrated by the face-off in North Carolina over the state’s renewable portfolio standard. (ThinkProgress)

PROTEST: Thousands of protesters marched through downtown St. Paul to the Minnesota capitol on Saturday, calling for the cancellation of a proposed oil pipeline that would travel near some of the state’s pristine waters. (StarTribune)

WIND: After a one-two legislative punch last year brought wind energy in Ohio to a standstill, advocates, developers and even some Republican lawmakers are pushing back, citing economic benefits. (Midwest Energy News)

SHAREHOLDERS: A review of shareholder proposals over 25 years at the three largest U.S. oil companies found that investors submitted more than 100 climate-related resolutions, none of which was approved. (InsideClimate News)

BIOMASS: CPS Energy is giving new life to old-school log utility poles in San Antonio, Texas, by turning them into biomass fuel. (FierceEnergy)

OIL SPILL: A Texas company whose ruptured pipeline created the largest coastal oil spill in California in 25 years had assured the government that a break in the line, while possible, was ​“extremely unlikely.” (Associated Press)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Carmakers, environmentalists and San Diego Gas & Electric have agreed to support a pilot project to install electric vehicle charging at up to 550 sites in the utility’s service area, with special rates at optimal times for the grid. (Environmental News Service)
• The new Hyundai Sonata hybrid and plug-in hybrid are a new breed of midsize cars barely distinguishable from their conventionally powered counterparts. (USA Today)

PRESIDENTIAL RACE: Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said he believes in climate change and pledges to tackle greenhouse gas emissions ​“in a business-friendly way,” if he is elected president. (Politico)

POLL: A new worldwide survey shows nearly 80 percent of people are ​‘very concerned’ about climate change and want their home countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions even if other nations do not. (Voice of America)

COMMENTARY:,Coal is the easy fossil fuel to divest from because it’s in decline and beginning to be seen as a risky industry for investors. (Fortune)