** Federal regulators blame an offshore drilling company for trying to ride out a hurricane last year, risking workers’ safety and resulting in nearly $6 million in damage to equipment.
** Companies drilling wells for oil and natural gas exploration in Florida’s Apalachicola River basin come up short for the second time in three years.
** In 2020, consumption of renewable energy in the United States grew for the fifth year in a row, reaching a record high of 11.6 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu), or 12% of total U.S. energy consumption reported the US Energy Information Administration.
** Although Connecticut’s direct-to-customer electric vehicle bill didn’t pass this legislative session, its supporters say to keep an eye out for similar legislation next year.
** Tallgrass Pony Express Pipeline, LLC operated by Tallgrass Energy, LP announced a binding open season soliciting shipper commitments for crude oil transportation utilizing expansion capacity from Pony Express’ Guernsey origin to Sterling, Colo.
** Halliburton Company received a contract from Kuwait Oil Company to expand KOC’s digital transformation journey by implementing solutions to maximize operational efficiency and increase production. The scope applies to all Kuwait fields including West Kuwait, South and East Kuwait, and Heavy Oil, complementing a recently awarded contract for similar services in North Kuwait.
** Liberty Oilfield Services Inc. announced the appointment of Audrey Robertson to its Board of Directors. Ms. Robertson joined the Board contemporaneously with the resignation of Brett Staffieri, who previously served on the Board as a nominee of entities affiliated with Riverstone Holdings.
** With power demand recovering from the pandemic, European utilities are using more coal as natural gas inventories are unusually low for this time of the year due to a cold snap in late winter and early spring reported Oil Price.
** In a move toward clean energy, a Florida utility company on Wednesday imploded its last standing coal power plant that has loomed over a small town for more than 25 years.
** General Motors plans to boost its cumulative investment in electric and autonomous vehicles to $35 billion from 2020-2025, a significant jump from a $27 billion target.
** Texas has nearly a dozen energy storage projects between 50 MW and 200 MW scheduled to begin this summer, which could leave the state with eight times more capacity than one year before and improve the grid’s reliability.
