Energy briefs

** U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy signs an order seeking to roll back fuel economy standards enacted by President Biden, arguing that “artificially high” fuel efficiency rules raise costs for consumers.

** Vermont is the latest state to impose a fee on owners of electric vehicles to make up for lost gas tax revenue, an approach that has been implemented in at least 39 states.

** Federal investigators accuse Southern California Edison of suppressing evidence indicating its equipment sparked a 2017 wildfire, casting doubt on the utilities’ claims it is not responsible for recent Los Angeles-area blazes.

** New York City launches a program allowing food delivery workers to trade in gas mopeds and e-bikes that are not certified for fire safety for new certified e-bikes, as part of an attempt to reduce the fire risks posed by uncertified batteries.

** General Motors passed a major milestone in its efforts to make its electric vehicles profitable. The Detroit automaker said EVs were “variable profit positive” in 2024. GM built 189,000 EVs last year and aims to build 300,000 this year.

** A North Carolina couple finally sees their power restored four months after Hurricane Helene struck the mountainous region, illustrating the difficulty crews are encountering as they seek to restore service.

World

** Germany’s expansion of onshore wind is at risk of a drastic slowdown, with proposed amendments to energy legislation threatening about 1,000 projects, an industry group said.

** French power futures for 2026 are about 27% cheaper than the equivalent contract in Germany, according to data from European Energy Exchange. Nuclear power output in France reached its highest level since 2019 this month, pushing down futures to a three-year low.

** China is building a gigantic laser-ignited fusion power laboratory that is 50pc larger than its US counterpart as the two superpowers spar for energy supremacy. The part-built research centre has been observed in satellite imagery, with experts warning it could be used to advance both power generation and nuclear weapons.

** China raced ahead building renewable energy last year, installing more wind and solar power than ever before and continuing to leave all other countries in the dust. The nation put up 357 gigawatts of solar and wind, a 45% and 18% increase, respectively, over what was operating at the end of 2023, according to China’s National Energy Administration.

** The European Union is proposing a phased ban on imports of Russian aluminum as part of a broad sanctions package ahead of the third anniversary of the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, according to people familiar with the matter.