Morgan Stanley analysts floated the idea that Russia’s President Putin could order state-controlled natural gas export monopoly Gazprom to cut supplies to European firms in retaliation for western-imposed economic sanctions. It appears the incremental damage such a move would cause to Russia’s economy makes using the “gas weapon” unlikely, but the Putin regime is not always a rational actor and remains fairly unpredictable. [International Business Times]

French legislation setting aside $13.4 billion in low-interest loans and tax credits is scheduled to enter parliament in September. The country is looking to use renewable energy and energy efficiency to reduce the percentage of power generated from nuclear, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions. “Other goals in the law include cutting emissions 75 percent by 2050 and getting 32 percent of energy from clean sources such as wind and solar by 2030, up from about 14 percent in 2012.” [Bloomberg]

Congressional republicans took aim at the EPA’s proposed carbon emissions rule for existing power plants in a bill released yesterday. Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.) said the rule improperly calculates the costs and benefits that would result from the rule’s implementation. [The Hill]