** A new federal regulation requires higher safety standards for pipelines carrying oil and other hazardous liquids through the Great Lakes region, marine coastal waters and beaches, officials said.
** The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported on Thursday that domestic supplies of natural gas fell by 88 billion cubic feet for the week ended Dec. 10. That compared with the average decline of 88 billion cubic feet forecast by analysts polled by S&P Global Platts.
** Oregon policymakers have approved the state’s Climate Protection Plan, which aims to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants emitted in the state. The controversial plan could increase the price of fuel and consumer goods in Oregon.
** FedEx has received it’s first five GM-built electric delivery vans out of an order of 500, the company announced. The move represents an important landmark for FedEx in its stated goal to be have an all-electric delivery fleet and be carbon neutral around the world by 2040.
** Rivian plans to hire 800 to 1,000 additional workers to manufacture electric trucks at its Normal, Illinois, plant.
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• Electric vehicle maker Rivian confirms it will start building a $5 billion factory near Atlanta next spring, and says it expects to deliver completed electric vehicles in two years.
** Federal regulators propose the developer of the 711-mile interstate Rover natural gas pipeline through Ohio pay a $40 million civil fine over alleged violations during construction.
World
** Coal-fueled generation is set to jump 9% from last year, according to an International Energy Agency report released Friday. That U-turn from the declines of the previous two years threatens the world’s trajectory to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, the organization said.
** Exxon Mobil Corp wass prepared to bid on Friday for new blocks in Brazil’s deep-water oil fields, a focus area for its oil and gas production growth, people familiar with the matter said.
** The leaders of the European Union’s two most important nations, Germany and France faced reporters together during a joint news conference early Friday, a show of unity at the end of the EU’s final summit of the year.
** European natural gas prices plunged from a record close after Russia topped up fuel to the region at the last minute.
