The largest US nuclear plant owner Exelon said it may shut nuclear facilities to shore up its balance sheet if profits do not improve this year. Historically low natural gas prices and renewable energy sources have decreased the price the utility receives for the power it sells. “Exelon owns 10 nuclear power plants, six of which are in Illinois. Analysts have signaled that if power prices don’t recover its Clinton and Quad Cities generating stations are among the potential closures.” [Chicago Tribune]

Oil refiners are concerned new crude oil testing regulations could force them to temporarily stop transporting the feedstock via rail. “Because the emergency order appears to require the tests on every shipment of oil before it rolls away, “AFPM members question whether they can continue to transport petroleum crude oil by rail,” the group’s president, Charles Drevna, told Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.” [FuelFix]

Argentina’s YPF signed a deal to add 15 rigs to its shale gas development operations. “The five-year accords adding rigs to the company’s existing 65 were signed with Norwegian Archer Ltd.’s DLS Argentina Ltd. unit, and Helmerich & Payne (HP) Inc., the Buenos Aires-based producer said today in an e-mailed statement. Helmerich & Payne, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, will provide 10 rigs while Hamilton, Bermuda-based Archer will provide the rest. The contracts have an option for a three-year extension, it said.” [Bloomberg News]