** While President Biden on Wednesday afternoon formally announced the designation of Camp Hale, Colo., as a national monument, Colorado members of Congress have also called on Biden to issue a Federal Lands Policy and Management Act mineral withdrawal for the site, which would bar new mining and oil and gas leasing in the area.
** U.S. dry natural gas production set an annual record in 2021, increasing by 3.5% from 2020, according to the recently released Natural Gas Annual. In 2020, production had dipped because of reduced economic activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
** Tech firm Honeywell International Inc will roll out technology that could increase supplies of lower-carbon aviation fuel produced from ethanol, the company said on Monday, as the Biden administration calls for the aviation industry to reduce emissions.
** The U.S. Energy Department launches a $32 million program to extract rare earth elements and other critical minerals from coal combustion waste.
** Two Canadian companies announce a strategic partnership to acquire Westinghouse Electric for nearly $7.9 billion, creating a North American nuclear energy powerhouse that owns generation and uranium supplies.
** Clean energy employment grew 5.5% in Missouri and 7% in Indiana, while Wisconsin saw more sluggish job growth than the rest of the region.
World
** Saudi Aramco said it would maintain contract oil volumes to clients in Asia despite the recently agreed OPEC+ production cuts, despite the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, including Russia (OPEC+), to lower their output target by 2 million barrels per day (BPD).
** France has for the first time started conveying natural gas to Germany, French gas network operator GRTgaz said Thursday, as Berlin strives to diversify its energy supply following the interruption of Russian gas deliveries.
** European households could still freeze during a severe cold snap this winter, despite the continent having almost filled its gas storage facilities, said the head of Gazprom PJSC.
** European electricity use is falling to levels seen during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic although some countries need to curb consumption further to prepare for a possible energy supply crunch this winter, a Reuters analysis of power data shows.
** Moldova urged citizens on Wednesday to cut back on electricity use during peak times due to a big shortfall in supplies after neighbouring Ukraine suspended exports following Russian missile strikes that hit its energy network.
** Germany flatly rejected an offer from Russian President Vladimir Putin to renew exports of natural gas through the Nord Stream 2 pipeline Wednesday.
** A potential threat to a large Norwegian natural gas plant sent jitters through European energy markets Thursday, as the continent frets about suspected Russian interference in its infrastructure.
