** The chief executive officers of Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp. have spoken about merging the two oil giants in light of the coronavirus pandemic and its drastic impact on oil and gas demand, according to people familiar with the talks reported the Wallstreet Journal.
** The US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources will hold a hearing on Wednesday to examine global climate trends and progress in addressing climate change.
** The US Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday to consider Michael Regan to be the EPA Administrator.
** Seaports in Southern California are experiencing a record level of ship congestion, with dozens of container vessels waiting in the ocean to deliver US imports. At least 38 container ships from Asia and elsewhere await berth space in LA and Long Beach and their wait could be up to two weeks or longer.
** Opponents of the Enbridge Line 3 replacement pipeline in Minnesota are stepping up pressure on Biden. More than 100,000 people have signed a petition — promoted by Democratic U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York – calling on Biden to revoke a water permit. Opponents also marched Friday to the Corps’ St. Paul office.
** A legislative supporter of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s seventh attempt to enact a natural gas drilling tax says passage is doubtful.
** Nineteen protesters arrested for blocking a coal train to a New Hampshire power plant won the right to have jury trials to appeal their convictions after they were sentenced to community service.
** South Dakota lawmakers advance a bill that would charge electric vehicle drivers a $50 annual fee that would go to the state’s road maintenance fund reported the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.
** Wyoming’s state senate passes a controversial bill aiming to reform the state’s net metering system in its first vote, a move which critics say would “disincentivize” residential solar installations.
** Xcel Energy’s CEO says the company is planning “significant investment” in transmission upgrades in Colorado according to Utility Dive.
** Albuquerque’s transit agency began testing its first electric bus over the weekend.