Oil prices were relatively lifeless at the start of the week, holding onto recent gains, but not moving much in either direction. The U.S. consumed 3 quadrillion BTUs in 2018, up 4 percent from a year before and a new all-time record high. – Fossil fuel consumption jumped by 4 percent as well, accounting for 80 percent of the total primary energy use. Natural gas consumption spiked 10 percent, while coal consumption fell sharply. – Renewables rose by 3 percent (wind was up 8 percent and solar was up 22 percent). Market Movers – Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE) began production at Train 2 of its Cameron LNG project in Louisiana. Sempra owns 50.2 percent, while smaller stakes held by Total SA (NYSE: TOT) and Mitsui (OTCPK: MITSY) . – Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) made a […]