** Duke Energy plans to work with BMW of North America, Ford Motor Co., General Motors and American Honda Motor Co. Inc. to recruit 200 electric vehicle owners for the pilot.
** US natural gas producer EQT says prices are surging due to lack of adequate pipeline structure. CEO Toby Rice suggested the fix to high natural gas prices is increased production and investment in ‘adequate’ infrastructure.
** ConocoPhillips (COP), the giant oil and gas exploration and production company, is routing excess natural gas from one of its Bakken region projects in North Dakota to supply necessary power to a bitcoin (BTC) mining operation.
** A plan by a group of Senate Democrats, many of whom face tough reelection bids, to suspend the gas tax amid high energy prices is facing bipartisan pushback, underscoring the uphill climb to passing the legislation.
** Austin-based Brigham Minerals Inc. recently agreed to a cash-and-stock mineral acquisition in the Midland Basin largely operated by Pioneer Natural Resources and Endeavor Energy Resources. It’s estimated to be a deal worth $32.5 million.
** Sixteen groups representing the U.S. construction industry sent a letter to the White House opposing a recent executive order signed by President Joe Biden requiring “project labor agreements” in federal construction projects over $35 million.
World
** Leaders of the world’s most consequential energy bodies gathered in Dubai for a forum Wednesday to discuss the uncertain future of oil as demand rebounds and prices climb, all while a growing roster of nations pledge to transition to cleaner forms of energy.
** OPEC+ producers need to pump more oil to close the widening gap between nameplate production quotas and actual output, the executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih Birol, said this week.