** Apache Corp. Apache Corporation and Total S.A. announced a major oil discovery at its 1.4-million-acre offshore Suriname tract. The Kwaskwasi-1 well was drilled offshore Suriname in Block 58. The well was drilled using the Noble Sam Croft with Apache as operator holding a 50% working interest and Total holding a 50% working interest.
** Dominion Energy is replacing its CEO Tom Farrell as part of an executive shakeup accompanying both the Virginia utility’s major shift away from natural gas and toward a renewable energy future, and the hefty financial penalty it incurred for its cancellation of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline project.
** Florida-based NextEra is among the utilities making moves to compete with oil and gas companies for a piece of the hydrogen energy market.
** General Motors and charging company EVgo plan to deploy 2,700 fast-charging plugs across the U.S. over the next five years. About 26,000 EV charging stations are publicly available in the U.S., but thousands more are needed to drive further EV adoption.
** A federal impact statement released Friday eliminates the possibility that four massive dams on the Snake River will be removed to preserve endangered salmon.
** California Gov. Gavin Newsom asks Warren Buffet to support the demolition of four Klamath River hydroelectric dams to save salmon populations.
** Arizona’s supreme court rules the state regulators have the legal right to take control of utilities posing a risk to public health and safety.
** Emails and security alerts recently released by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission reveal drones were flown over Arizona’s Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in September 2019.
** Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso says his legislation to help revive nuclear power would bolster Wyoming’s uranium production and protect national interests.
** Hundreds of tribal, racial justice, environmental and conservation organizations are calling on members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to reject the nomination of William Perry Pendley to lead the Bureau of Land Management, according to a new letter .
** More than 50 industry groups, including the American Chemistry Council, National Association of Manufacturers and National Mining Association, wrote to the leaders of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Friday to urge support for the confirmation of Doug Benevento as deputy administrator for EPA.
** House Natural Resources Chair Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) announced Saturday he tested positive for Covid-19 though he is not currently experiencing symptoms. His positive test came just days after having close contact with Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), who tested positive the next day, at a hearing.
** Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), the top Democrat on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is urging the Trump administration to reject key water permits for the Pebble Mine in Alaska, doubling down on opposition he first revealed late last year.
** The Food and Drug Administration announced on Friday that chemicals manufacturers have voluntarily agreed to phase out the use of certain PFAS in fast food wrappers, pizza boxes and other food packaging that contain a building block known as 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol.