PIPELINES: The EPA finalizes a rule that limits the ability of states and tribes to fight permits to pipelines that pose a risk to rivers and drinking water. (Washington Post)

ALSO:
• Enbridge tells Minnesota regulators that the oil market disruption from COVID-19 is a short-term challenge that doesn’t change the need to replace its Line 3 pipeline. (Star Tribune)
• New Jersey launches an investigation on whether it has enough natural gas capacity for the next decade in a study advocated by utilities and conservation groups. (NJ Spotlight)
• The amount of natural gas flowing through pipelines to liquefied natural gas export plants is at its lowest levels in nine months. (Reuters)

***SPONSORED LINK: Applications are now open for the Veterans Advanced Energy Fellowship, a yearlong program for high-performing, high-potential military veterans in advanced energy, presented by the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center. Learn more at www.vetsenergyproject.org/fellowship.***

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE:
• Advocates in a Massachusetts city hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic say officials need to listen to community members about health threats from fossil fuel development. (Energy News Network)
• Climate and justice advocates say a proposed new grid contract would “flood Puerto Rico and the Caribbean with fracked gas” when renewable energy infrastructure would be more resilient. (New Republic)

EMISSIONS: Volkswagen could face a “staggering” number of new claims after a federal court rules that local governments can impose pollution laws on the car company. (New York Times)

CLEAN ENERGY:
• House Democratic leaders are preparing an assortment of energy and environmental legislation for floor debate, with a major focus on clean energy. (E&E News)
• The International Renewable Energy Association says falling prices for wind and solar mark “an important turning point in the energy transition.” (Reuters)
• A new report says many cities lack the expertise and utility support to reach their 100% renewable energy goals. (Smart Cities Dive)

SOLAR:
• Arkansas regulators favor the state’s growing solar industry in a long-awaited net metering ruling. (Arkansas Democrat Gazette)
• A coalition of environmentalists, state employees and agricultural researchers in South Carolina are working to help utilities and solar developers grow native grasses and flowers around large solar arrays. (Post and Courier)

COAL:
• Murray Energy’s bleak financial outlook is pushing Ohio’s nearly insolvent mine reclamation fund to the brink of collapse, experts warn. (E&E News, subscription)
• A former federal energy regulator says utilities’ use of self-scheduling for coal plants and resulting costs on customers should be addressed by state regulators. (Utility Dive)

OIL & GAS: Some experts believe that the coronavirus crisis is an opportunity for California to phase out oil activity that has long enjoyed political support despite the state’s climate ambitions. (Greentech Media)

EFFICIENCY: A federal study finds utility-run natural gas energy efficiency programs are cheaper than the fuel itself, which efficiency advocates say could lead to unnecessary infrastructure. (Utility Dive)

GRID: Time is running out for states to decide whether to leave PJM as federal regulators may approve conducting a capacity auction that is at the heart of the dispute. (E&E News)

UTILITIES: Residents in a southeastern Iowa city say an effort by Alliant Energy to deploy smart meters conflicts with their spiritual beliefs. (Business Insider)

***SPONSORED LINK: Do you know someone who works hard to facilitate the transition to a clean energy economy? Nominate yourself or someone you know for Energy News Network’s 40 Under 40 today.*** 

TRANSPORTATION: Officials in New York fear massive gridlock if workers turn to cars instead of transit as coronavirus restrictions are eased. (New York Times)

COMMENTARY:
• “Anti-blackness is rampant in the climate and environmental movement”: Activists say racial equity can not be separated from the climate discussion. (Heated)
• The Iowa Conservative Energy Forum says the state should “double down” on wind energy to help the post-pandemic economic recovery. (Mason City Globe Gazette)

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Ken Paulman

Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy and is a founding editor of both Midwest Energy News and Southeast Energy News. Prior to joining Fresh Energy, he was the managing editor for online news at Minnesota Public Radio. He started his journalism career in 2002 as a copy editor for the Duluth News Tribune before spending five years at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, where he worked as a copy editor, online producer, features editor and night city editor. A Nebraska native, Ken has a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors.