** Saudi Arabia said Monday it will voluntarily cut another 1 million barrels per day from June output — on top of the agreement struck last month between OPEC and Russia to cut output by 9.7 million bpd for May and June . The announcement brings the Kingdom’s total production cut to about 4.8 million b/d. Following the announcement, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates also said they would make additional cuts, by 80,000 b/d and 100,000 b/d, respectively.
** Elon Musk resumed operations at his California Tesla plant Monday, defying a county shelter-in-place order.
** A Montana coal company lays off more than half of its workforce until May 26 due to weak market conditions for coal.
** Coal power plant construction will push ahead in Asia despite falling electricity demand and environmental concerns as policymakers prioritise boosting economies crippled by the coronavirus pandemic, analysts say. Fossil fuel demand will plummet this year as lockdowns sap electricity use, the International Energy Agency said in a report last month.
** The Trump administration announced final approval Monday of the largest solar energy project in the U.S. and one of the biggest in the world despite objections from conservationists who say it will destroy thousands of acres of habitat critical to the survival of the threatened Mojave desert tortoise in Nevada. The $1 billion Gemini solar and battery storage project about 30 miles northeast of Las Vegas is expected to produce 690 megawatts of electricity — enough to power 260,000 households — and annually offset greenhouse emissions of about 83,000 cars.
** Tallgrass Energy, LP announced today that it was named one of The Denver Post’s Top Workplaces – the sixth consecutive year the company has been honored by Top Workplaces. The list is compiled based on a third-party survey that asks employees to rate their company on aspects of corporate culture, including alignment, execution, and connection.
** Callon Petroleum has suspended well completions and is idling more rigs in response to the coronavirus-driven oil crash. The Houston oil and gas producer on Monday said it stopped completing wells in April and plans to operate just one drilling rig by mid-May. The company plans to spend no more than $600 million on oil exploration and production this year.
** A former deputy superintendent at Rocky Mountain National Park says BLM oil and gas lease sales in Colorado should be temporarily stopped during the coronavirus pandemic.
** Joe Biden’s campaign doesn’t respond to questions about his position on the Line 3 pipeline project in Minnesota, which several of his former primary challengers opposed.
** The Mayo Clinic’s investment in a Texas oil and gas firm loses more than $45 million in the first quarter due to the pandemic.
** North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum expresses disappointment at the planned closing of Great River Energy’s 1,151 MW Coal Creek Station plant, vowing a “path forward … that preserves high-paying jobs.”
** County officials in central Iowa plan to introduce an ordinance allowing for more widespread use of solar energy on agricultural land, which could be a model across the state.
** Madison, Wisconsin-based utility Alliant Energy reports a 5% decline in sales due to the pandemic, though first quarter profits are up compared to the same time last year.
** Analysts see a bright future for wind projects in Wyoming after the coronavirus pandemic passes.
** Colorado oil and gas regulators say the potential risk of an increase of abandoned wells in the state because of the economic downturn is minimal.