Illinois consumer advocates leery of Exelon-Integrys deal

FRACKING: Advocates say proposed changes to Michigan’s fracking regulations are too lenient. (Midwest Energy News)

UTILITIES: Consumer advocates say the proposed Exelon buyout of Integrys’ retail operations will limit competition, and We Energies says cool summer weather will hurt its profits. (Chicago Tribune, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

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CLIMATE: Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan says EPA carbon rules are ​“outside the confines of the law” and ​“climate change occurs no matter what,” and religious conservatives voice support for carbon regulation at EPA hearings. (Christian Science Monitor, New York Times)

COAL: A small Indiana town worries about the impact of climate regulations: ​“All we know in Dugger is coal, coal, coal.” (CNHI News Service)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Stanford University researchers say a lithium battery breakthrough could boost electric car range to 300 miles, and an industry group says electric cars are a ​“quadruple win” for utilities. (ClimateWire, Greentech Media)

POLITICS: How ethanol and climate change could impact Iowa’s Senate race, and coal likely won’t be a major issue in Ohio’s gubernatorial election. (Politico, Climate Progess, Columbus Dispatch)

SOLAR: The Indiana Municipal Power Agency plans a $2 million solar project, and Iowa’s largest solar array goes online. (Crawfordsville Journal Review, Des Moines Register)

OIL: A petition drive seeks to block a section of crude oil pipeline through Iowa, and Archer Daniels Midland will pay $430,000 to settle accusations of water violations at oil facilities in three states. (Cedar Rapids Gazette, Associated Press)

NATURAL GAS: An Oklahoma company plans a new processing plant in North Dakota, which is expected to further reduce natural gas flaring in the Oil Patch. (Forum News Service)

COMMENTARY: Why FERC is not worried about EPA carbon regulations, and advocates say a utility industry group is backing ALEC’s attack on solar. (NRDC Switchboard, Huffington Post)