** Environmental groups file a lawsuit accusing California regulators of failing to assess or alleviate potential environmental impacts of increased biofuel use expected under updates to the state’s low-carbon fuel standard.
** For the first time in U.S. history, wind and solar generated more electricity than coal during the first 11 months of 2024, according to data from a clean energy think tank.
** General Motors and ChargePoint partner to deploy 500 ultra-fast electric vehicle chargers across the U.S. by the end of 2025.
** Rivian reaches a confidential deal with the UAW that would make it easier to unionize the EV maker’s workforce if the company reaches profitability.
** Battalion Oil (BATL) announced it is terminating a merger agreement with Fury Resources first announced in December 2023. Battalion cited Fury’s failure to meet financial deadlines as the reason for termination.
** Chevron Corp. has signed a 20-year deal to buy liquefied natural gas exports from Energy Transfer LP’s proposed Lake Charles terminal in Louisiana, according to a statement from Energy Transfer.
** The US has sanctioned more tankers and companies it alleges are involved in the trade of Iranian oil, which generates revenue that supports Tehran-backed militia groups such as Hamas and the Houthis.
Nine vessels and eight companies were added to the sanctions list, with the State Department and Treasury Department both taking action, according to a government statement.
World
** Volkswagen on Friday announced sweeping changes to its German operations, including more than 35,000 future job cuts and sharp capacity reductions in a last-gasp deal between Europe’s top carmaker and unions to avert mass strikes.
** As one of Europe’s biggest suppliers of electricity, Sweden is seeing red over Germany’s energy policy, which it says ends up punishing Swedish consumers. Putting diplomatic manners aside, Sweden’s energy minister Ebba Busch has not minced words over what she thinks of Berlin’s “irresponsible” energy policy.
** China has allowed representatives from Germany, Sweden, Finland and Denmark to board a Chinese bulk carrier at the centre of an investigation into Baltic Sea cable breaches, the Danish foreign minister said.
