** Talks for a new national contract for U.S. refinery and chemical plant workers intensified on Monday between the United Steelworkers Union (USW) and oil companies, the union told members in a message seen by Reuters.
** Lawmakers who support the rival petroleum and ethanol industries have joined forces to oppose the Biden administration’s push to electrify the federal vehicle fleet, marking a rare moment of unity between oft-warring interests.
** Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM and joint venture partner Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (or Sabic) began operations at their petrochemical manufacturing facility in San Patricio County, TX.
** A coalition of environmental groups is taking New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration to court over what it contends is a lack of real advances to reduce greenhouse gas emissions despite years of promise.
** Vandals were blamed for opening valves at a North Dakota well site near Watford City, spilling 18,000 gallons of wastewater onto the ground.
World
** Turkey is undergoing massive power cuts to industrial customers this week at an unprecedented level never seen before after the country’s natural gas supplies dipped following a disruption of imports from Iran.
** The central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan suffered electrical power outages in major cities on Tuesday, according to authorities and residents, after a major power line in Kazakhstan was disconnected.
** An earthquake in Japan could be the latest headache for the global chip industry. Toshiba has suspended operations at a plant in southern Japan after a strong quake hit the area.
