POLICY: The U.S. Senate passes a $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill that excludes tax credit extensions for wind and solar industries and climate provisions for bailed out airlines. (Greentech Media, Bloomberg) 

PIPELINES:
• A federal judge orders an environmental review of the Dakota Access pipeline nearly three years after it started transporting oil, potentially opening the door for it to be shut down. (NPR)
• A federal judge rejects a challenge by environmental groups and fishermen of permits for the Bayou Bridge Pipeline in Louisiana. (E&E News, subscription)

OIL & GAS:
• The oil price war and uncertainty from the coronavirus mean serious challenges for North Dakota’s oil and gas industry. (Washington Post)
• A law firm with deep ties to the Democratic Party is helping oil companies lobby for exemptions from federal greenhouse gas emission regulations. (Sludge)

COAL: Coal miners who suffer from black lung disease take extra precautions to avoid coronavirus, which is especially dangerous for them. (Earther)

BIOMASS: With a public hearing on a proposed wood pellet plant in North Carolina canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, community members worry they are running out of time to get answers from state regulators. (Energy News Network)

SOLAR:
• Minnesota solar advocates say the pandemic adds urgency for state lawmakers to increase the budget for a solar incentive program. (Energy News Network)
• California-based distributed solar and storage company SunPower announces it’s cutting executive salaries and withdrawing guidance offered for 2020, citing uncertainty related to the coronavirus pandemic. (Greentech Media)
• A growing movement advocates for the building of solar arrays on land simultaneously used for sheep grazing. (Yes!)
• A Texas solar company offers discounts for residents who want to go solar while they’re at home under lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic. (KSAT)

RENEWABLES: Analysts fear that credit concerns and falling demand for electricity could undercut momentum for commercial renewables. (Greentech Media) 

GRID: New York’s grid operator says stay-at-home orders are creating a “historically unprecedented” shift in energy consumption. (E&E News, subscription) 

NUCLEAR: The Tennessee Valley Authority delays planned outages at a nuclear reactor this spring due to the coronavirus pandemic. (S&P Global)

BIOFUELS:
• The Trump administration will not appeal a court ruling that limits its use of waivers for small oil refiners from biofuel blending requirements. (Reuters)
• Minnesota biofuels advocates welcome the administration’s decision, while the oil industry calls it an “astonishing” blow to small refineries. (Star Tribune)
• The dispute is not over, though, as oil companies plan to continue legal challenges. (E&E News, subscription)

UTILITIES:
• Texas energy providers are forced to change how they sell electricity during the pandemic since they have to avoid knocking on doors. (Houston Chronicle)
• An Austin utility tells customers the stay-at-home order could increase utility bills if they don’t conserve electricity. (Austin American-Statesman)

ELECTRIFICATION: A recent poll in California reveals a lack of consumer awareness about alternatives to fossil-fuel-burning appliances despite an anticipated boom in all-electric homes. (Greentech Media)

COMMENTARY: As Democrats predict at least two more stimulus bills in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, David Roberts explains what a just and sustainable economic response could look like. (Vox)

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.