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Energy Policy.  The Obama administration announced that it will no longer hold its planned auction of oil and natural gas leases off the southeast Atlantic coast, citing both public opposition and concerns that drilling there would interfere with military defense operations underway.  The move is largely seen as a victory for environmentalists and citizens of coastal communities who were opposed to the planned leasing, but draws criticism from oil companies and many state legislatures who were looking for job creation and a new source of tax revenues. WSJ

Oil Outlook.  The Wall Street Journal reports that many American oil producers and oilfield-services companies are ill-prepared to “jump-start” drilling and ramp up production volumes when oil prices begin to stabilize, countering the view that the U.S. will serve as the new swing oil producer as the era of super low oil prices comes to a close.  The authors explain that because many independent oil companies are financially strained, have slimmed down their workforces, and idled much of their equipment to cut costs, the eventual ramp-up will be much slower than expected as the firms repair their balance sheets and adjust their labor and capital stocks accordingly. WSJ

Energy Outlook.   According to the Energy Information Administration, hydraulic fracturing accounted for just over half of U.S. crude oil production in 2015  — up from less than 2% in 2000.  The relatively new method of oil production is used primarily in shale and other tight rocks found in Texas, Montana, and North Dakota, but has also been used successfully in offshore crude oil production.  EIA

Climate Change.  The Japanese government has approved measures to reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions in line with its agreements at last year’s Paris climate conference.  The country will enact policies that aim to improve energy savings, expand the use of hydrogen, and boost innovative technologies, in addition to further measures enacted by local governments.  Bloomberg

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Coal.  Thousands of miners in China have begun to openly protest Beijing’s plan for orderly downsizing and job cuts in the nation’s government-owned coal sector, which is expected to result in delayed or unpaid wages.  The government claims it will allocate roughly $15.4 billion to “resettle” coal and steel workers that fall victim to excess capacity cuts, though it expects local governments and companies to pay a portion of the costs, despite widespread issues with bankruptcy. FT

Climate Change.  According to a recent study published in the journal Nature Climate Change,  global sea-level rise could disrupt the lives of more than 13 million Americans living in shoreline communities — almost three times the number of people estimated in other projections that fail to account for population growth.  The study predicts that nearly half of the population at risk will be in Florida, though notes that none of the nation’s 22 coastal states would be immune to the effects of a sea-level rise.  NY Times

Oil Outlook.  Large oil producers who have entertained the notion of a production freeze have begun to hit obstacles that threaten to undermine or halt any further negotiations.  Key issues include the timing and duration of a freeze, whether Iran should be bound by any cap established, the location of a conference for further negotiations, and the extent to which a cap would even be successful in raising prices.  WSJ

Solar.   Maine has emerged as a “pivotal” U.S. state in the ongoing debates surrounding how consumers should pay (and be compensated by utility companies) for power generated through solar panels.   Lawmakers in Maine have proposed to replace the long-standing net metering system with a new model that would let utilities sign 20-year contracts with residential solar customers, with rates set by regulators. Such a system would offer greater predictability to both utility companies and solar providers, but it would probably reduce the amount that solar customers are paid for their excess solar energy.  Bloomberg

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Water.  The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged the Westlands Water District of Central California — the nation’s largest and most powerful agricultural water district — with intentionally hiding its financial problems from investors of the district’s municipal bonds.  The Westlands district supplies irrigation water to a vast region of farmland and is known as a powerful player in both California and national politics;  the scandal will likely result in a downgrade of the district’s debt and raises suspicion over similar “water districts” across California.  NY Times

Oil.  The Wall Street Journal details an incentive structure common to many energy production companies that rewards executives for production and reserve growth, rather than profitability, and has helped to drive the drilling boom across the United States despite the global price downturn. Activist shareholders are seeking to limit the practice in the low price environment so that companies prioritize efforts related to returns on capital and efficiency gains instead. WSJ

Climate Change.  Heidi Cullen reviews recent scientific research that links climate change to various changing weather patterns around the world, noting that the newest research finds a stronger link between global warming and instances of extreme weather such as flooding, draught, and heat waves.  Given that global warming is widely expected to continue, Cullen argues that such findings should be taken seriously by community planners, policymakers, engineers, and insurance analysts who must weigh the chances of repetitious extreme-weather events and plan accordingly.  NY Times

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Natural Gas.  Electricity generation from natural gas has continued to grow as low prices boost power demand and make the fuel more cost-competitive compared with coal.  Looking forward, high inventories are expected to pressure prices even lower, which could cause the trend to continue for the foreseeable future.  Bloomberg

Solar.  National grocery store chain Whole Foods has announced plans to install up to 100 rooftop solar systems across nine states in a move that adds branding value to the company while also reducing electricity costs.  In the solar industry, the announcement marks a victory for companies trying to pursue the market for renewables at a larger scale for commercial and industrial customers.  NY Times

Nuclear.  One of only two nuclear power plants in Japan was ordered to be shut down today after a court ruled that new safety measures are insufficient to protect citizens from future accidents.  The decision marks the first time that a nuclear facility in Japan has been restarted and then ordered to be shut down since the Fukishima disaster, and has caused many to worry about the viability of nuclear power in the country moving forward.  NY Times

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Oil Outlook.  The U.S. Energy Information Administration revised its estimates for U.S. crude production in 2016 and 2017 down to 8.69 million barrels per day (bpd) and 8.19 million bpd, respectively.  Under the revised forecast, production will fall to its lowest level since 2013 — though prices are expected remain subdued as global inventories of crude continue to grow more quickly than global demand.  EIA, Bloomberg

Energy Outlook.  Several of China’s leading auto makers have invested in emerging battery technologies in an effort to boost fuel economy performance and meet national emissions regulations.   The move marks a progression of steps that the nation has taken to become more of a technological leader in both “green” technologies and the automotive industry more broadly; in this case, Beijing has coupled federal mandates with generous localized incentives to spur demand for electric vehicles, which is giving these companies an extra boost compared with their foreign counterparts to meet strict emissions targets.  WSJ

Coal.  The Energy Information Administration reports that more than 80% of retired electric generating capacity was conventional steam coal in 2015, and that approximately 30% of that retired coal capacity occurred in April alone.  The agency notes that the April timing of many retirements coincided with the implementation of the EPA’s Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule, which illustrates the role that environmental regulations are playing in many power plant operating decisions.  EIA