** Tesla Inc.’s electric vehicles would be shut out from consumer rebates under a proposal by California Governor Gavin Newsom, pitting the prospective Democratic presidential hopeful against Republican power player Elon Musk.
** California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposes offering rebates on electric vehicle purchases if the incoming Trump administration eliminates a federal EV tax credit, while suggesting the incentive program could exclude Tesla cars.
** The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced almost $15 million for nine research and development projects meant to increase hydropower’s ability to respond to changing demand on the electric grid.
** Analysts say Amazon’s and Google’s plans to develop small modular reactors to power Oregon and Washington data centers could spark a nuclear energy revival.
** A Utah lithium mining firm idles its Great Salt Lake operations and lays off 186 employees, citing low commodity prices.
World
** A giant oil discovery in the Falkland Islands is even bigger than originally thought, it has emerged. An independent report into the North Falkland Basin has upgraded estimates of recoverable oil resources from 791m barrels to 917m – twice the annual output of the entire North Sea.
** Doubts are growing over Guyana’s pick of a little-known U.S. startup to craft and develop projects to monetize its vast untapped natural gas resources that could cost up to $30 billion. Year-old Fulcrum LNG faces financing hurdles that could derail its selection.
** Egypt, which recently diverted a number of incoming liquefied natural gas shipments, is reviewing its energy import needs amid a fall in domestic power demand and a drive to trim spending.
** Japanese policymakers suggested setting a target of cutting emissions by 60% by 2035, according to a government panel held Monday.
** Venezuelans are bracing for severe cooking-gas shortages after a blast knocked out a plant serving almost half the country. Propane production has plunged 97% since the Nov. 11 explosion at the Muscar gas complex in Monagas state, according to data seen by Bloomberg.
