Offshore energy is getting lots of attention this week, which is good. Offshore energy is vital to America’s economy and energy security. This week the Interior Department proposed the first draft of its next five-year program for offshore oil and natural gas leasing, in the 2017-2020 timeframe. While the draft plan doesn’t go far enough,… Keep reading →
The Canadian Gas Association, a leading industry trade group, issued a report in December 2014 promoting renewable natural gas in Canada. Titled, “Renewable Natural Gas Technology Roadmap for Canada,” the report offers very aggressive support for biomethane production as a means to both reduce waste and greenhouse gases while developing an underutilized renewable resource. According… 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 →
U.S. renewable power continued to grow in 2014, with preliminary federal data showing almost exactly half of the year’s new installed capacity coming from renewable sources. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission reported on Thursday that 15,384 megawatts of new generation went into service in 2014, and 49.9 percent of that came from wind, solar and… Keep reading →
The number of large-scale oil tanker spills has decreased significantly in the last five years with the current figures showing less than two per year. “At a time when focus on protecting the marine environment is high, this trend should provide encouragement to tanker owners. It is also a testament to the ongoing work by… Keep reading →
According to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” Dr. King’s words served as a special theme for the Minorities in Energy (MIE) STEM and Energy Literacy series kick-off… Keep reading →
The World Resources Institute, a highly respected environmental think tank issued a new report this week arguing against the widespread use of biofuels. While acknowledging that waste biomass, such as food waste or urban tree trimmings can be efficiently harvested for fuel, the overall quantities would be relatively limited. Biomass crops on the other… Keep reading →
As complex as the energy industry is, and as sophisticated as the equipment that governs this business may be, there is no reason why customer service should be any less efficient, timely and secure than it is for any other enterprise. The shopping experience, regardless of the product in question, should be as seamless as… 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 electricity sector and its incumbent electricity companies are undergoing an unprecedented, challenging but nevertheless critical transformation – a transition towards a more climate-resilient, less carbon-intensive power system which ends up “closer to the customer”. The widespread penetration of renewable energy sources into the electricity supply mix along with a constant push for more innovative… Keep reading →
