Taking a look at the president’s new budget request for the Interior Department, we see the administration asking for $13.2 billion, an increase of nearly $1 billion over the enacted funding level for the current fiscal year. Now take a look at the data table below from Interior’s Office of Natural Resource Revenue, which tabulates… Keep reading →
An increase in the price of oil did little to affect the U.S. stocks, with the market remaining unchanged at the close of business yesterday. “A jump in oil helped push up energy stocks, but other sectors slipped after disappointing data on the U.S. economy. European markets closed mostly higher after France endorsed Greece’s efforts… Keep reading →
The Obama administration has released plans to open up the US Atlantic coast to offshore oil drilling for the first time. Drilling in the Atlantic had been banned for decades, but the ban expired in 2008. The Obama administration declined to issue leases in the Atlantic after the ban expired, and clamped down even tighter… Keep reading →
After months of anticipation, the Obama Administration this month released its new methane emissions strategy – a plan that opens up new opportunities for industry writ large, and especially for operators that want to cut waste and get ahead. The centerpiece of the strategy are imminent rules that will help us meet a new national… Keep reading →
The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s hearing on EPA’s coal ash rule centered on compliance mechanisms to incorporate federal requirements into state programs. The House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing on January 22, 2015 to consider the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rule to regulate disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCR) from electric… Keep reading →
The U.S. wind power industry said on Wednesday that it had a solid 2014, with 2,500 turbines capable of producing 4,850 megawatts put into operation, a big jump from 2013’s piddling gain of 1,098 MW. Plus, as the year drew to a close, nearly 100 projects totaling 12,700 MW were under construction. Pretty picture, right?… Keep reading →
Earlier this month, I accompanied Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall on her first overseas trip as Deputy Secretary of Energy — a visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, a component command of U.S. Central Command. The trip was an exceptional opportunity for the Deputy Secretary to reinforce the… Keep reading →
Oil prices surged following Saudi Arabia’s Royal Court announcement of the death of King Abdullah on Friday. Brent crude climbed as much as 2.6 percent, while West Texas Intermediate jumped 3.1 percent, following the announcement. It is yet to be seen whether Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s largest oil producer, will change its policies with respect to its oil output, but many analysts do not expect Saudi’s oil policies to change with the crowning of King Abdullah’s half-brother, Crown Prince Salman. In fact, Bloomberg reports that King Salman announced he will maintain the policies of his predecessor and that Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi will remain in his post.
Over the past several months, we’ve been providing updates on the ongoing litigation surrounding Order 745 – a vital, federal rule on demand response. As a low-cost, environmentally beneficial resource, demand response relies on people and technology, not power plants, to manage stress on the electric grid during periods of peak energy demand. Simply put,… Keep reading →
Methane emissions from oil and gas production have become a serious issue for regulators concerned about greenhouse gasses, as well as for oil and gas producers who see lots of money going up in flames as gas flares and vents. But technology innovators are finding ways to capture the wasted natural gas and profitably use… Keep reading →
