With a unanimous City Council vote, San Diego, has become the largest American municipality to transition to using 100 percent renewable energy. [The NY Times]

Congressional negotiators scrambled to bridge energy policy differences and strike a deal for a $1.15 trillion spending bill. [Yahoo News]

Even after a steady drop in energy prices through the second half of the year, banks in the U.S. are being lenient with cash-strapped companies rather than set tougher lending constraints that could make survival more difficult. [WSJ]