** The White House has asked energy companies to help lower fuel prices amid a worldwide rise in energy costs, Reuters reported. Oil and gas companies have spoken with the White House in the preceding days regarding the request, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
** The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded a contract to a consortium of companies led by oil major Royal Dutch Shell PLC to demonstrate that a large-scale liquid hydrogen storage tank is feasible at import and export terminals.
** Former North Dakota oilfield executive Joseph Kostelecky of Poseidon Concepts Corp. pleaded guilty Wednesday to fraud charges for misleading shareholders about his company’s value, in a scheme that eventually forced it to go bankrupt and led to more than $886 million in losses.
** Earthstone Energy, Inc. ESTE signed an agreement to obtain privately-held operated assets worth $73.2 million in the Midland basin from two sellers. The total consideration for the transaction involves $49.2 million in cash and 2.6 million shares of Earthstone Class A common stock.
** French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen said that if she is elected president next year she will end all subsidies for renewable energy and will take down France’s wind turbines.
** Phillips 66 PSX recently announced the receipt of approval from its board of directors to increase the quarterly dividend payout. The diversified energy manufacturing and logistics company reported a new dividend of 92 cents per share, representing an increase of 2%.
** Solar group American Solar Manufacturers Against Chinese Circumvention is seeking import tariffs on panels made by Chinese companies in Southeast Asia and has refused a request by federal trade officials to reveal its members’ identities, citing fears of retaliation by Beijing, according to a document the group filed with the Commerce Department.
** General Motors will extend a production halt on its electric Chevrolet Bolt by two weeks as it accelerates production of new battery modules and prioritizes recall repairs.
** The U.S. Interior Department announces it will auction off up to seven offshore wind leases by 2025, including the first auctions off Maine’s coast, in the Gulf of Mexico, and near California and Oregon.
** The U.S. Department of Energy announced $61 million for 10 pilot projects that will deploy new technology to transform thousands of homes and workplaces into state-of-the-art, energy-efficient buildings. These Connected Communities can interact with the electrical grid to optimize their energy consumption which will substantially decrease their carbon emissions and cut energy costs.