Massachusetts’ HB 4185 would boost solar industry growth by removing net metering caps and by creating a declining block solar incentive program. On July 24, 2014, a group of 54 Massachusetts-based companies sent a letter to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in support of HB 4185 – An Act Relative to Net Metering and Solar Power. The letter emphasized… Keep reading →
With growing awareness of the risks from cyber attacks, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) this past April took steps to enhance U.S. cyber security standards. Their plan seeks to improve the resiliency of critical network operations in electric generation, distribution and transmission systems. The ripple effects of compliance will be felt throughout the U.S.… Keep reading →
The latest round of economic sanctions against Russia enacted by the US and European Union are designed to blunt Russia’s ability to tap western technology and expertise needed to develop complex oil deposits and shale resources. “The biggest edge that Western energy companies still have is their technological edge — that’s why these sanctions have… Keep reading →
On May 15, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the seventh meeting of the Advisory Panel on Reconstruction of the Legal Basis for Security in his long quest to advance the reinterpretation of its ‘Pacifist’ Constitution and to allow finally for the exercise of Japan’s right to collective self-defense. During the meeting, the members of… Keep reading →
The Bahraini government’s legal move against the main opposition group escalates its differences with Washington but could also provide an opportunity for diplomacy. On July 20, Bahrain’s Justice Ministry submitted a legal request that, if accepted by a local court, will bar the country’s main Shiite opposition group, al-Wefaq, from operating for the next three… Keep reading →
A tanker carrying 1 million barrels of crude oil from Iraqi Kurdistan reportedly just rounded the Florida pan handle and is scheduled to land in Galveston, Texas. The buyer is unclear and Iraq’s official crude oil marketer SOMO is threatening to sue anyone purchasing the cargoes, which the government in Baghdad views as violating the… Keep reading →
Another axe has fallen in Europe over renewable energy subsidies. Just last month, Italy announced that it will cut its feed-in tariffs (FIT) for certain renewable energy plants – not only for future plants, but also for existing plants with valid FIT guarantees. German lawmakers also recently approved an extensive revision of the country’s renewable… Keep reading →
Admiral Mike Mullen, retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke on U.S. energy security last Wednesday in Washington DC at an event hosted by the groups Securing America’s Future Energy and the Foreign Policy Initiative. Mullen was asked whether the US can take advantage of the surge in domestic energy production as a… Keep reading →
Crude oil transportation in the US ballooned to 1 million barrels per day in recent years as production swelled beyond existing pipeline infrastructure capacity. A series of explosive accidents involving crude oil train cars has sparked regulators to strengthen rules and safety measures governing these pipelines on wheels. “Tens of thousands of these older tank… Keep reading →
Opinion: Climate, US Oil Exports and Energy ‘Less Dependence’
By Bennett ResnikCongress is currently involved in a highly polarizing and critical topic regarding America’s future: energy sources and the economic and environmental costs of our current regulations and policies. Several Senate and House committee hearings reflect this: hearing on “Laboratories of Democracy: The Economic Impacts of State Energy Policies,” “Modernizing the Business of Environmental Regulation and… Keep reading →