SNL Energy presents the most read stories for the week ended Dec. 9.

1. President-elect Trump meets with climate champion Al Gore

President-elect Donald Trump met with climate change activist and former Vice President Al Gore at Trump Tower in New York City. Speaking to media following the meeting, which began around 11:30 a.m. and ended sometime after 1 p.m., Gore said he had a "lengthy and very productive session with the president-elect."

2. Google moving to 100% renewable energy in 2017

Users of Google Inc. products can take solace knowing that their YouTube videos, Gchat messages and map searches will be powered by 100% renewable energy starting next year. The Mountain View, Calif.-based technology conglomerate said it will successfully have tied 100% of its global energy consumption, driven primarily by its data center operations, with an electron generated by a wind or solar facility from which the company will purchase some combination of physical electricity and associated renewable energy credits, starting in 2017.

3. Celebrity Dakota Access protesters test limits of star power

The world of energy developers bristles when Hollywood crashes into it, but famous actors and musicians have a spotty record as environmental advocates. Oil and gas pipeline giant Energy Transfer Partners LP has experienced an uncomfortable amount of attention as actors and musicians have joined the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's protest against the company's approximately $3.8 billion, 1,170-mile Dakota Access crude oil pipeline where it is supposed to cross the Missouri River in North Dakota.

4. Long-term predictability key to making 'coal great again,' says Cloud Peak exec

While offering cautious optimism about the potential impact of a Trump administration on the battered coal industry, Cloud Peak Energy Inc. vice president for government and public affairs, Richard Reavey, said ensuring long-term predictability to consumers is key to making "coal great again."

5. Pipeline expansions reduce gap between Northeast consuming and producing areas

Northeast pipeline expansions have made it easier to get shale gas into New England, helping to bring natural gas producers higher prices while lowering wholesale prices for consuming markets in November. During early November, natural gas prices were less volatile in spite of higher natural gas deliveries downstream of Stony Point through the first half of the month.