ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Global electric vehicle sales appear likely to crash this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and oil price collapse, according to research from Wood Mackenzie. (Greentech Media)

ALSO: Tesla is reportedly set to furlough non-critical employees without pay and cut executive salaries as much as 30% through Q2 while its operations remain suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Bloomberg)

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TRANSPORTATION: Work continues on a regional compact to reduce transportation emissions on the East Coast, but it’s unclear how falling gasoline prices and economic uncertainty will affect the plan. (Energy News Network)  

UTILITIES:
• President Trump says he wants to cut the pay “by a lot” for the Tennessee Valley Authority’s chief executive — the highest paid federal employee — as part of legislation to boost the economy. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
• NextEra Energy is exploring a potential acquisition of Kansas utility Evergy, following reports that AEP and Ameren are also interested. (Utility Dive)

EFFICIENCY:
• Missouri’s consumer advocate asks regulators to suspend utility energy efficiency programs as a way to reduce customer bills during the coronavirus pandemic, but supporters of the programs say it’s an excuse to weaken the state’s efficiency law. (Energy News Network)
• California regulators unanimously approve seven new local ordinances that exceed 2019 energy efficiency building codes, including one that will require new buildings to be all-electric. (Bloomberg Law, subscription)

OIL & GAS:
• A limited number of employees work long hours by themselves to keep pipelines operating in Texas during the pandemic. (Houston Chronicle)
• President Trump tells aides he doesn’t support a plan to temporarily stop charging energy companies royalties for oil and gas produced on federal lands and waters. (Bloomberg)

COAL:
• Coal companies ask Congress to cut the taxes they pay to support abandoned mine cleanup and healthcare for miners with black lung disease. (Washington Post)
• Republican senators push to ensure that fossil-fuel companies, and coal in particular, aren’t excluded from the bailout program being administered by BlackRock on behalf of the federal government. (Bloomberg Environment)
• Families of coal miners worry about the health and safety of those working in mines during the coronavirus pandemic. (WYMT)

GRID:
• New data on electricity use suggests the economy is experiencing the fastest and maybe deepest downturn since the Great Depression. (New York Times)
• Grid operators are seeing a slower morning ramp up and an early afternoon peak instead of the usual morning and evening peaks. (Greentech Media)
• PJM prepares for worker sequestration and readies a third control room if COVID-19 requires either action. (POWER Magazine)

POWER PLANTS: The coronavirus pandemic is expected to delay 39% of new power plant construction over the next six months, with Pennsylvania among the states most impacted. (Bloomberg Law)

CLEAN ENERGY:
• When New York revamped its renewable energy siting law last week it became the first state to create a central planning office for that purpose. (Utility Dive)
• Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker taps the former director of the state’s Environmental Protection Agency to craft legislation for 100% renewables by 2050, but the plan’s timeline is unclear. (Rockford Register-Star)

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POLLUTION: Colorado environmentalists are urging Gov. Jared Polis to suspend coal and oil operations in the state, citing new research indicating air pollution impacts coronavirus death rates. (E&E News, subscription)

COMMENTARY: A clean energy policy advocate says the country should go all-in on distributed solar to restart the economy. (Morning Consult) 

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Dan Haugen

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.