** The House Judiciary Committee said it’s found “substantial evidence of collusion and anticompetitive behavior” by the financial industry to “impose radical ESG-goals” on US companies. An interim report published by the Republican-led committee said “a cartel” of financial firms and climate activists sought to replace Exxon Mobil Corp. board members in 2021 after the company declined to make a series of climate pledges.
** The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fined the chemical company Oxy Vinyls for failing to report a toxic chemical release at its Pedricktown, New Jersey, facility in violation of hazardous chemical reporting laws, according to Environment+Energy Leader.
** California continues to build out what is already one of the largest clean vehicle networks in America, made up of more than 150,000 public and shared private electric vehicle (EV) chargers. On Dec.11, the California Energy Commission (CEC) announced another $1.4 billion investment in its charging and hydrogen refueling network, the largest in the country, serving light, medium, and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles.
** Boeing said it will commit $1 billion to its 787 Dreamliner manufacturing plant in South Carolina as it seeks to ramp up production after a difficult 2024.
World
** Two Russian oil tankers with 27 crew members on board have been heavily damaged in the Black Sea, causing an oil spill, authorities in Russia have said. … as a result of a storm in the Black Sea.
** Ukrainian drones carried out an overnight attack on an oil facility in Russia’s Oryol region that is a crucial source of fuel supplies for Russian troops, Ukraine’s military said on Saturday. The drones hit the Steel Horse production control station, which lies about 170 km (107 miles) from the border with Ukraine, a military statement said.
** For the second time in a month, Germany’s electric grid has been hit by a wind drought, known in Germany as a Dunkelflaute. The lack of wind sent Europe’s electricity prices soaring to their highest levels since the end of 2022, when Europe was in the midst of an energy crisis due to concerns about supplies of Russian gas.
** A European gas supplier ended a decades-long contract with Gazprom, the Russian state-owned energy juggernaut. The Austrian gas conglomerate OMV announced that it was cutting ties with Gazprom over a protracted contract dispute, ending its dealings with Russia.
