• The United Nations climate negotiations fell apart after countries were unable to agree on rules to set up a global carbon market. The talks were complicated by disagreements over how to treat existing carbon credits, including those established under the 1997 Kyoto protocol, whose continued use some countries feared would dilute the new carbon market. (Financial Times)

• PG&E Corp. faces a Tuesday deadline to address the issues raised by California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in his rejection of the utility’s reorganization plan. Newsom, whose backing is required for PG&E to receive state assistance for future wildfire expenses, said last week that he seeks well-defined safety metrics and the removal of current directors from its board after the plan is approved. (Bloomberg)

• The U.S. Forest Service allowed Midas Gold Corp. to take “the lead” on writing a required environmental assessment for proposed open-pit gold mines in central Idaho, according to internal emails, meeting notes and a memorandum obtained by the conservation group Earthworks. The review is normally prepared by the Forest Service or an independent contractor. (The Associated Press)

Top 5 Energy Policy Predictions for 2020
Jacqueline Toth, Morning Consult

In some ways, 2020 likely marks a holding pattern for climate and energy policy ahead of the November election. But energy analysts think Congress just might be able to cobble a package of energy bills together. And even if national environmental policy remains rather stagnant, the electric vehicle industry — and domestic gas production — are poised to have a strong year.

California water politics complicate House panel’s oversight
Jacob Holzman, Roll Call

House Natural Resources Chairman Raúl M. Grijalva of Arizona wants his committee to give him subpoena authority for multiple possible investigations, but California Democrat Jim Costa may vote against that as the panel considers whether Interior Secretary David Bernhardt improperly influenced a decision to send more water to his district.

Congress Mulls Reviving Tax Breaks Prized by ADM, Tesla, GM
Laura Davison and Erik Wasson, Bloomberg

The talks, which were held on Saturday, are focused on reinstating the so-called tax extenders, a move that could be a boon to the biofuel, alcoholic beverage and short-line railroad industries that were hoping to see renewal of valuable credits and deductions, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

Manchin on climate, impeachment and one mine he opposes
Jeremy Dillon, E&E News

It’s been nearly a year since he became the top Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Sen. Joe Manchin is still preaching that middle ground to balance energy and environment policy with economic progress.

How the Fossil Fuel Industry Is Attempting to Buy the Global Youth Climate Movement
Alleen Brown, The Intercept

The students’ questions may have been tough, but the event was great PR for the fossil fuel industry. Gone are the days when CEOs openly questioned the existence of climate change. 

BLM, citing public ire, demands intensive review of test bores before mine above Glenwood Springs can expand
Jason Blevins, The Colorado Sun

The Bureau of Land Management will conduct an environmental review of test bores proposed by the owner of limestone quarry seeking to exponentially expand the operation above Glenwood Springs.

Oil prices hold near three-month highs on U.S.-China trade deal
Noah Browning, Reuters

Oil prices on Monday held near three-month highs, supported by last week’s announcement that an initial trade deal had been reached between the United States and China.

Goldman Sachs to stop financing new drilling for oil in the Arctic
Stephanie Kirchgaessner, The Guardian

The new environmental policy, which was released by the US bank on Sunday, was praised by environmentalists, though many warned that it was only a first step.

Exxon, Chevron face new round of shareholder climate resolutions
Ron Bousso, Reuters

An activist group is increasing the pressure on five big U.S. and European oil companies with shareholder resolutions urging them to meet the Paris climate goals and cut carbon emissions.

WPX Is in Talks to Buy Felix Assets For $2.5 Billion
Kiel Porter and David Wethe, Bloomberg

WPX Energy could announce a deal with Denver-based Felix Energy later this month, said one of the people, who asked to not be identified because the matter isn’t public. No final decision has been made and talks could fall through, the people said.

BLM analysis shows climate price of Alaska drilling
Heather Richards, E&E News

The draft document bluntly describes a warming Arctic, vulnerable to ongoing changes as a result of burning fossil fuels. And it quantifies “downstream” emissions.

Shale Slowdown Takes Economic Toll
Rebecca Elliott, The Wall Street Journal

America’s hottest oil-drilling regions—such as this one at the heart of the Permian Basin—are seeing their economies soften as shale producers slash spending, leading to emptier hotels, choosier employers and less overtime for workers.

MISO Board OKs $4 Billion MTEP 19
Amanda Durish Cook, RTO Insider

MISO’s Board of Directors on Thursday unanimously approved a $4 billion transmission portfolio consisting of 480 projects.

As Cities Push for Renewable Energy, a Major Utility Tries to Lock Them Into Longer Contracts
James Bruggers, InsideClimate News

As cities in the South start exploring ways to expand their renewable energy use, some are running into an obstacle that could set those plans back decades: The nation’s largest public utility, concerned about its income base, has started pressuring its customers to lock in long-term contracts that critics say could leave the region relying on fossil fuels for years to come.

Harley-Davidson and Zero launch new electric street bikes
Charles Fleming, Los Angeles Times

Harley-Davidson has begun selling its dynamic new LiveWire, the Milwaukee-based giant’s first battery bike, and the first in a coming line of many such two-wheelers.

Powered By Faith, Religious Groups Emerge As A Conduit For A Just Solar Boom
Avery Ellfeldt, NPR

Nearly one third of U.S. households struggle to pay their utility bills, according to a 2018 U.S. Energy Information Administration report. To make up for electricity’s weighty cost, the agency says, roughly 20% of households forgo necessities like food and medicine, while 11% keep their thermostats at unsafe temperatures.

US has only one offshore wind energy farm, but a $70 billion market is on the way
Bob Woods, CNBC

Just three years ago five giant wind turbines in the waters off Block Island, Rhode Island, started spinning 30 MW of electricity to that tiny community of about a thousand residents. While it remains the only offshore wind farm in the U.S., that’s about to dramatically change.

Foresight Energy Seeks More Time for Bondholder Talks After Missed Interest Payment
Soma Buswas, The Wall Street Journal

Foresight Energy LP, the coal miner controlled by bankrupt Murray Energy Corp., asked bondholders for more time to negotiate after missing an interest payment and starting restructuring talks.

Environmental report details potential plans to treat, truck radioactive SRS waste
Colin Demarest, Aiken Standard

A trio of plans that could ultimately rid the Savannah River Site of thousands of gallons of radioactive waste years ahead of schedule would have little to no negative impact or affect on workers, the public and the surrounding air and environment, according to a recently published U.S. Department of Energy draft report.

6 takeaways from the COP25 climate talks
Kalina Oroschakoff and Zack Colman, Politico

The COP25 climate talks failed to reach their main goal on Sunday, but they didn’t blow up the global climate negotiating process. That’s a pretty low bar and not nearly enough for the growing number of people increasingly worried about the threat of global warming.

COP25 was meant to tackle the climate crisis. It fell short
Tara John et al., CNN

The message from climate activists was passionate, the warning from the scientific community and countries already experiencing the effects of climate change, urgent. The action from world powers has been excruciatingly slow and inadequate.

Boom times are back for carbon offsetting industry
Anna Gross et al., Financial Times

Pledges from big corporations fire up market that crashed a decade ago.

ESG Funds Draw SEC Scrutiny
Juliet Chung and Dave Michaels, The Wall Street Journal

Some argue investment funds should focus solely on returns, and some firms have faced questions about how strictly they adhere to ESG principles.

Arctic lease sale is bad for taxpayers
U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), The Hill

America’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a unique national treasure that must not be squandered for short-term fossil fuel profits. Most of us understand that, even if we’ve never visited the refuge’s vast untouched wilderness, or personally witnessed the tremendous ecological diversity it sustains.

What Will It Take to Clean Up the Electric Grid?
Justin Gillis and Sonia Aggarwal, The New York Times

Decades of climate change foot-dragging are finally giving way to public demands for action. Around the world, millions of young people are on the march. Political and business leaders are making pledges and offering plans.

The energy surprises of 2019
Nick Butler, Financial Times

The uncertainty that prevails in the industry has been underlined by events of the year.

Meeting the Dual Challenge: A Roadmap to At-Scale Deployment of Carbon Capture, Use, and Storage in the United States
National Petroleum Council 

As the United States explores options to promote economic growth and ensure energy security while protecting the environment by reducing carbon dioxide emissions over time, Secretary Perry has requested the NPC to undertake and deliver a comprehensive study that would define potential pathways for deploying and integrating CCUS technologies at scale into the energy and industrial marketplace in the United States, with an emphasis on the petroleum industry.