** Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm unveiled new efforts aimed at massively cutting the cost of producing hydrogen with climate-friendly processes. The “Hydrogen Shot” program will breathe life into the DOE’s goal, first announced in April, to drive the costs of clean hydrogen down from about $5 per kilogram today to $1 per kilogram by 2030.
** President Biden and his allies raked in campaign cash from a top Russia lobbyist in 2020, just months before his administration’s decision to scrap sanctions on a controversial firm building a Russian oil pipeline to Germany.
** Environmental and tribal groups opposed to Enbridge Energy’s ongoing effort to replace its aging Line 3 crude oil pipeline are planning large protests in northern Minnesota as the Canadian-based company gears up for a final construction push.
** Saudi Arabia increased oil prices for customers in its main market of Asia by more than expected after crude surged above $70 a barrel and OPEC forecast that global demand would heavily outstrip supply over the rest of the year.
** Iowa solar installers say the expiration of a statewide solar tax credit will make projects a tougher sell to residential and small business customers.
** Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he learned through the press — not any direct heads-up — that President Biden had decided to stop trying to block a Russian pipeline that Ukraine sees as a dire national security threat.
** Data vendor Enverus says the recovery in the price of oil to more than two-year highs is offering a long-awaited opening to companies and private equity firms to shed unloved assets in the U.S. oil patch. Sales of land parcels worth $6.9 billion have been announced in the first five months of 2021, almost eclipsing the $7 billion recorded in all of 2020.
** Energy giant BP Plc sees a strong recovery in global crude demand and expects it to last for some time, with U.S. shale production being kept in check, according to Chief Executive Officer Bernard Looney.
** Europe’s biggest utility Enel is looking to develop a green hydrogen project in Russia as part of plans to expand its renewable energy business in the country, Enel’s Head of Europe, Simone Mori, told Reuters in an interview.
** U.S. House and Senate lawmakers gear up to question Colonial Pipeline’s CEO after last month’s cyberattack disrupted operations and resulted in gas shortages across the Southeast.
**Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn says he is concerned “climate change has become a religion” that takes oil and gas for granted.
** In 2020, both natural gas consumption by the U.S. electric power sector and natural gas exports reached record highs, despite a 2% annual decline in domestic dry natural gas production reported the U.S. Energy Information Administration.