** More than $500 million worth of Australian coal is on ships anchored off Chinese ports, as a diplomatic spat between the two countries cuts into trade, idles a portion of the world’s dry bulk carriers and threatens to spiral into a humanitarian crisis reported Bloomberg.
** The Associated Press reported a judge on Monday voided permits needed for a massive methanol plant on the Columbia River in southwestern Washington, agreeing with conservation groups that the project needs a more thorough environmental review.
** Canadian pipeline operator Enbridge Inc. said on Nov. 24 it had filed a federal complaint in the U.S. District Court seeking an injunction to stop the State of Michigan from taking any steps to prevent the operation of Line 5 reported Reuters.
** As of this week, the market value of Tesla rocketed past $500 billion for the first time. It means the company is more valuable than most of the world’s major automakers combined.
** The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers denied a permit for the controversial Pebble Mine in Alaska on Wednesday, saying the “proposed project is contrary to the public interest,” according to the New York Times.
** Arkansas’ October jobless rate dropped a full percentage point to 6.2% due to job gains in the professional services and retail sectors.
** Reuters reported so much gas has flowed into LNG export plants in the U.S. that it turn out to be a record high. Cheniere Energy’s plant in Corpus Christi, Texas transported enough gas to supply all three of its liquefaction trains.
** A $700 million transmission line that will carry electricity from Wyoming coal plants and wind farms has been completed and became operational in mid-November.