COAL: Ohio coal executive Robert Murray issues a prayer to a newspaper following President Obama’s re-election, asking forgiveness “for the decisions we are now forced to make,” before laying off 156 workers, citing a “war on coal.” (Washington Post)

WISCONSIN: State utilities have met renewable energy benchmarks for 2011, and most are already meeting requirements for 2015. (Wisconsin State Journal)

SOLAR: A federal trade panel gives final approval to steep tariffs against Chinese solar panels, reviving hopes for American manufacturers. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

TRANSPORTATION: Fuel economy for new cars in the U.S. reaches an all-time high, electric car owners cruise past the gas-line chaos in New Jersey, and big employers step in to help shape the newest light rail line in suburban Minneapolis. (Wall Street Journal, New York Times

ETHANOL: Indiana’s oldest ethanol plant, which is also for sale, shuts down indefinitely, laying off 40 workers. (South Bend Tribune)

MICHIGAN: By a wide margin, voters defeat a proposed constitutional amendment to expand Michigan’s renewable energy standard.(Midwest Energy News)

POLITICS: The conservative policy group ALEC plans to make repealing state renewable energy standards a “high priority” in the coming year, and has revealed the model legislation it will use. (Midwest Energy News)

CLIMATE: A new report warns that current emissions are on a track consistent with projections of 6°C warming by the end of the century, and a poll finds most Americans are unwilling to pay significantly higher energy costs to prevent climate change. (Reuters, Huffington Post)

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Plus: ALEC plans to make repealing state renewable energy standards a “high priority” in the coming year and has revealed the model legislation it will use.