POWER PLANTS: The U.S. EPA cites the coronavirus pandemic as justification for a sweeping relaxation of environmental rules that will allow power plants to determine for themselves if they are meeting air and water pollution rules. (New York Times)
CLEAN ENERGY:
• Clean energy legislation stalls in many states as legislatures cut sessions short or shift attention to other issues due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Utility Dive)
• California sets a new emissions goal for its electric sector that would double the state’s clean energy capacity by 2030. (Reuters)
• After celebrating a major legislative victory this month, Virginia renewable companies now face uncertainty because of the pandemic. (Virginia Mercury)
WIND: The nascent offshore wind industry could see major setbacks because of the coronavirus. (InsideClimate News)
TRANSMISSION: A planned underground transmission line that would follow railroad rights-of-way through Iowa and Illinois hasn’t faced the same organized opposition that has dogged overhead transmission lines in the region. (Energy News Network)
SOLAR:
• The U.S. solar industry could be facing a crisis due to uncertainty over the Investment Tax Credit as projects face delays. (E&E News, subscription)
• Elon Musk says Tesla’s New York solar panel factory will convert to manufacturing ventilators “as soon as is humanly possible.” (Energy Live News)
• Tesla tells its employees that two workers have tested positive for the coronavirus, though it did not indicate which business unit or location. (Reuters)
• The country’s largest solar manufacturer says Ohio’s “stay-at-home” orders do not apply to its module factories near Toledo. (Greentech Media)
PIPELINES:
• A federal safety agency eases training requirements for pipeline operators to help companies prepare for the coronavirus pandemic. (Bloomberg Environment)
• Mountain Valley Pipeline developers say construction won’t be further slowed by the coronavirus pandemic. (Roanoke Times)
OIL & GAS:
• An analysis concludes that a sudden drop in travel due to the coronavirus could cut demand for oil by more than 50%. (The Hill)
• The pain from plunging oil prices is spreading beyond the Permian Basin to small towns across the country. (Bloomberg)
• Texas regulators consider a cap on oil production because of low prices, but several regulatory and practical hurdles remain. (Grist)
COAL:
• The United Mine Workers of America asks federal regulators to set guidelines to help protect coal miners from contracting coronavirus. (WVPB)
• West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice signs legislation that gives power companies tax breaks for keeping coal-fired power plants open. (Bloomberg Tax, subscription)
• The coal industry will not receive direct assistance from the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill. (Lexington Herald-Leader)
NUCLEAR: Nuclear plant operators consider potential changes to refueling practices to protect the health and safety of workers. (Utility Dive)
GRID:
• State and federal energy regulators urge states to designate utility workers as “essential” to critical infrastructure during the coronavirus outbreak. (E&E News, subscription)
• Analysts say an increased demand for distributed storage is likely during the coronavirus pandemic, citing California as an example. (Utility Dive)
BIOFUELS: Ethanol producers say the federal government is blocking their plans to produce a grade of alcohol that could be used for sanitizers. (Associated Press)
EFFICIENCY: An Illinois architect discusses the challenges of reaching higher percentages of energy efficiency levels in new buildings and retrofits. (Energy News Network)
COMMENTARY: The oil and gas industry was headed for broke long before COVID-19, and now the Trump administration wants to use the pandemic to put it on life support. (Drilled)