** President Trump on Friday said he would nominate a judge who has called on his colleagues to curb agency independence to a seat on the federal appeals court where many of the nation’s environmental and regulatory disputes are decided.
** U.S. oil-by-rail volumes have declined 11% from a year ago as new pipelines and price declines offer cheaper alternatives.
**Climate activists say that their efforts to organize online amid the coronavirus pandemic have run into an unexpected obstacle: internet trolls.
** Congressional Democrats condemned the Trump administration for rolling back Obama-era clean car rules but may not pursue a challenge under the Congressional Review Act.
** An attorney who’s worked on nutrition assistance and other farm bill programs is the new top legal staff member for the House Agriculture Committee.
** Congressional committees have started holding what they call paper hearings during the novel coronavirus outbreak, including a planned session on the Department of Energy’s budget request.
** Republicans on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee announced a series of staff departures, promotions and arrivals last week that included its chief counsel leaving for the private sector.
** Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) sees “multiple issues” with HFC legislation to phase down a class of powerful greenhouse gases, casting a shadow over a rare climate bill that’s widely supported in the environmental and corporate communities.
** A Michigan ethanol plant considers supplying alcohol for sanitizer under new FDA guidelines, but bigger challenges loom for the industry as fuel consumption drops.
** Tesla electric vehicle sales increased 40% during the first three months of this year, according to preliminary data.
** California is considering a mileage fee to make up for lost gasoline tax revenue from electric cars.
** Wyoming’s plan to purchase land from Occidental Petroleum Corporation that could give the state access to Colorado’s oil and gas reserves is still being considered despite the coronavirus crisis.
