US and World energy headlines

** The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday proposed a major step to limit exposure to asbestos, a carcinogen that kills 40,000 Americans each year. The EPA proposed to ban imports, manufacturing, processing and distribution of a type of asbestos called chrysotile asbestos.

** A new poll from Gallup finds that nearly half of all Americans worry “a great deal” about the environment, and that concerns have risen since before former President Trump took office.

** Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced on Monday that he sent legislation to the General Assembly to halt the state’s gas tax for three months amid skyrocketing fuel prices.

** U.S. coal miners including Peabody Energy Corp. are surging as the European Union proposes banning imports of the fuel from Russia. But it will be difficult, if not impossible, for them to fill the potential supply gap.

** Electric truck startup Rivian says it’s on track to achieve its production target of 25,000 vehicles this year at its Normal, Illinois, factory.

World

** The European Commission announced on Tuesday that it would be imposing a ban on imports of coal from Russia as part of its latest package of sanctions against Moscow. The ban, worth 4 billion euros ($4.4 billion) annually, “will cut another important revenue source for Russia,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement.

** Saudi Arabia’s state oil producer is set to hike prices across regions as the kingdom’s advantage in the market grows amid the Ukraine crisis, blowing past an April record according to The Hill.

** The EU has no role in a contract for Russian gas that Hungary operates with Gazprom, and Budapest is working on a solution to pay for the fuel, its foreign minister said on Wednesday.

** The German government said Tuesday it has resolved a long-running spat that will allow the construction of more than 1,000 onshore wind turbines, boosting efforts to expand the use of renewable energy.

** Cuba is struggling to cover a fuel deficit as imports from Venezuela and other countries remain below historical levels and global prices boosted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine make purchases almost unaffordable, according to analysts and data.