SNL Energy editors' picks for the best stories for the week ended March 31.
1. The elephant in the room: Endangerment finding missing from Trump order
An elephant stood in the room watching over President Donald Trump as he picked up his pen to sign an executive order directing the repeal of the Clean Power Plan and turning back other environmental initiatives put in place by his predecessor.
2. Westinghouse bankruptcy casts shadow over US nuclear projects
Toshiba Corp.'s U.S.-based nuclear construction arm, Westinghouse Electric Co. LLC, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from creditors, formalizing a major blow to the U.S. nuclear industry.
3. Rooftop solar's conservative turn
While the U.S. solar industry was staffing up last year amid booming development, the country's big three publicly traded residential installers cut headcount in the face of headwinds.
4. From $500 to $57,000: 'Eye-popping' acre prices tell story of Permian's rebirth
Several years ago, Pioneer Natural Resources Co. "quietly and secretly" started buying up deep holdings in the Permian Basin of West Texas for as little as $500 per acre. The formerly prolific play was considered obsolete since the days of conventional production's dominance, and most producers were focused on shale plays like the Eagle Ford, Bakken and Marcellus.
5. Trump environmental order does little to change coal retirement plans
U.S. coal producers and trade associations cheered President Donald Trump's package of actions aiming to boost the coal industry, but many of their customers are on track to move away from the fuel regardless.