** Bayer AG’s comprehensive settlement of U.S. lawsuits over its Roundup weed killer is in jeopardy after lawyers for some consumers accused the company of reneging on the $11 billion deal and the judge overseeing the litigation questioned its truthfulness. U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria said during a hearing Thursday he’s concerned Bayer has “manipulated” the settlement process since announcing its plan in June to resolve 125,000 cases alleging that the herbicide causes cancer.
** The lightning-caused fire burning north of Grand Junction since July 31 became the largest in Colorado history Thursday, surpassing the 2002, 138,114-acre Hayman fire.
** The GOP-led Senate committee investigating Biden’s relationship with Ukraine has secured a voluntary interview with Amos Hochstein, a former special envoy for international energy in the Obama administration who also served as a close Biden adviser.
** Exelon Generation threatened to close two Illinois nuclear plants next year and warned that it may retire two others early, following FERC’s December order to exclude wind, solar and nuclear power from part of its largest electricity market.
** California air quality officials approve regulations aimed at significantly reducing pollution from diesel trucks and ships.
** Conservation groups allege the Bureau of Land Management’s plans for fossil fuel development in the Powder River Basin violated federal law and a 2018 court order.
** A plan to allow AEP to be Columbus, Ohio’s clean energy aggregator would spur $1 billion in new renewable energy investments in the state.
** If elected, Joe Biden would likely face pressure from environmental groups to permanently shut down the Dakota Access pipeline.
** County officials in southeastern Nebraska continue debating land use regulations that critics say threaten potential wind projects.
** A lightning strike causes hundreds of gallons of brine and oil to spill at a North Dakota saltwater disposal well.
** A wind project proposed by a company linked to China near the Texas-Mexico border is drawing heavy pushback.
** California air quality officials have passed two new measures aimed at reducing pollution from diesel trucks and ships. One rule introduces new emissions standards for heavy-duty diesel trucks, while the other requires more ships docked at ports to either plug into electric power or use other technology to reduce harmful emissions.