The United States faces a struggle to impose deeper sanctions on the Russian energy sector, as European fears over collateral economic damage leave President Barack Obama with diminished options.”Energy is the economic lifeblood of Russia, which vies with the United States and Saudi Arabia to be the world’s top oil producer, and the sector is the main target of Western sanctions over Moscow’s role in the conflict in Ukraine.
But current sanctions have already hit the easiest targets in Russia’s high-tech exploration projects in the Arctic, Siberian shale, and deep-sea. That leaves the United States with less palatable options, such as trying to target the country’s oil exports, as it has done with Iran.
Even though global oil prices have dropped by roughly half since last year, the United States’ European allies remain skittish over any damaging repercussions on energy supplies.” [Reuters]
A physicist who helped devise the weapon more than half a century ago has defied a federal order to cut from his new book material that the government says teems with thermonuclear secrets.”The author, Kenneth W. Ford, 88, spent his career in academia and has not worked on weapons since 1953. His memoir, “Building the H Bomb: A Personal History,” is his 10th book.
“They wanted to eviscerate the book,” Dr. Ford said in an interview at his home here. “My first thought was, ‘This is so ridiculous I won’t even respond.” Instead, he talked with federal officials for half a year before reaching an impasse in late January.” [The NY Times]
Westar Energy will send rebates to customers after collecting a surplus $38 million during the last fiscal year. “The rebates, which will average about $1.26 a month, come from Westar’s Retail Energy Cost Adjustment rider, which pays for fuel for Westar’s generating plants.
The rebates were detailed in filings with the Kansas Corporation Commission.
The Wichita Eagle reports a fuel charge means customers essentially pay the cost of Westar’s fuel, and the charge fluctuates every month. If Westar collects too much, customers get a rebate. If the utility collects too little, customers pay more.” [KWCH]
