** The Biden administration has published a new rule for some gas and electric stoves to be more efficient — but these rules are significantly weaker than what was initially proposed reports The Hill. The Energy Department said in a press release that 97 percent of gas stoves and 77 percent of electric stoveson the market already meet the requirements it is proposing.
** Nearly a year after a freight train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, a research report published this month estimates that more than 3 million Americans are at risk from potential derailments involving the same substances.
** A Colorado environmental group is asking a federal judge to strike down a $2 billion plan that would reroute river water to the state’s expanding northern communities.
** Bayer was ordered on Friday to pay $2.25 billion to a Pennsylvania man who said he developed cancer from exposure to the company’s Roundup weedkiller, the man’s attorneys said.
** On Friday, however, the marriage will officially end between California and big Oil. The two largest U.S. oil producers, Exxon Mobil and Chevron, will formally disclose a combined $5 billion writedown of California assets when they report fourth-quarter results.
** Toyota Motor said on Monday it is urging the owners of 50,000 older U.S. vehicles to get immediate recall repairs because an air bag inflator could explode and potentially kill motorists.
** The House Energy and Commerce Committee is set to question five top federal officials over the Biden administration’s closed-door deal with environmental groups seeking to breach, or tear down, hydroelectric dams in Washington.
World
** Saudi Arabia’s oil giant Saudi Aramco said Tuesday it will not try to increase its maximum daily oil production to 13 million barrels a day after receiving an order from the country’s Energy Ministry. The firm, known formally as the Saudi Arabian Oil Co., said it would maintain its maximum output at 12 million barrels a day.
** A group of climate activists who infuriated many in Germany by gluing themselves to streets to block traffic said Monday that it will abandon the tactic and move on to holding what it calls “disobedient assemblies.”
** The U.S. will reinstate sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector if the Venezuelan government does not lift its ban on a leading opposition candidate running for president later this year, a White House official said on Monday.
** Meeting the Republic of Ireland’s offshore wind energy targets could reduce carbon emissions, cut electricity bills and create numerous jobs, according to a new report. But collaboration between government and industry will be needed as well as significant investment.
** Japanese transport officials raided a Toyota-affiliated plant Tuesday after the company admitted to cheating on engine testing, as Toyota Motor Corp. reported it sold over 11 million vehicles in 2023 to retain its status as the world’s top car manufacturer.