CLIMATE:
• A federal judge rules that a Massachusetts consumer protection lawsuit against oil companies for climate-related damages should return to state court. (Bloomberg)
• The Trump administration is reportedly still considering how to proceed with its constitutional challenge to California’s cap-and-trade agreement with Quebec. (Bloomberg Law)

CLEAN ENERGY:
• The coronavirus outbreak will trigger an economic slowdown that’s likely to affect the broader clean energy transition, including renewables, storage and electric vehicles, according to a recent report. (Utility Dive)
• A Utah bill aiming to move more than one-third of the state’s population to 100% renewables by 2030 could be a template for other red state transition programs. (Utility Dive)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• The sheriff of a California county says Tesla cannot continue to operate its plant there under a Bay Area lockdown to prevent spread of coronavirus. (Reuters)
• Analysts say electric vehicles are “particularly exposed” to business impacts from the coronavirus as consumers seek less risky options during the pandemic. (E&E News, subscription)
• The New Jersey Turnpike Authority signs a deal with Tesla for 56 fast chargers for electric vehicles, bringing the total on the highway to 76. (Clean Technica)

SOLAR:
• A solar development on a former soybean field in western New York highlights the conflict between those who prefer preservation of rural landscapes and farmers needing extra income from their land. (New York Times)
• Sunrun says rooftop solar could be a “countercyclical product,” thriving during an economic downturn, but the historical record is limited. (Greentech Media)

STORAGE: An Oregon energy storage company shares how supply chain disruption in China has affected their business. (Energy Storage News)

WIND: A study by California’s grid operator finds utility-scale wind farms have the potential to provide grid services that match those of a gas plant or hydroelectric facility. (Utility Dive)

GRID:
• A new report says retail markets in 14 states where consumers can buy clean energy do not offer adequate incentives as grid operators rely on the capacity market to acquire energy supplies. (Utility Dive)
• Proposals in Illinois to opt out of PJM’s capacity auction could be a model for other states seeking to boost renewable energy portfolios. (Greentech Media)

NUCLEAR: A judge gives preliminary approval to a $520 million deal that would settle a ratepayer class action lawsuit against South Carolina utility Santee Cooper over a failed nuclear project. (The State)

OIL & GAS:
• The historic fall in oil prices could cost the energy industry thousands of jobs, particularly in Alaska, California, New Mexico, Texas and North Dakota, which together account for about 67% of U.S. crude oil production. (CNBC)
• A growing number of Democrats push back against a possible oil and gas industry bailout amid the coronavirus pandemic. (The Hill)

UTILITIES: Utilities around the U.S. prepare for possible demand decreases during the coronavirus pandemic and face pressure to halt disconnections for customers who can’t pay bills. (Greentech Media, Huffington Post)

POLLUTION: A Stanford University researcher concludes that reductions in air pollution in China from the coronavirus response has likely saved 20 times more lives than have currently been lost to the virus. (USA Today)

Dan has two decades' experience working in print, digital and broadcast media. Prior to joining the Energy News Network as managing editor in December 2017, he oversaw watchdog reporting at the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, part of the USA Today Network, and before that spent several years as a freelance journalist covering energy, business and technology. Dan is a former Midwest Energy News journalism fellow and a member of Investigative Reporters and Editors. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communications from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.