2015 Oil Prices: U.S. to Emerge as Dominant Player Business Day: For years, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) pulled the strings set the price of oil and controlled the supply. After dictating the course of oil prices for more than 50 years, OPEC is finding its influence diminished. Right now, OPEC represents about 40… Keep reading →
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) confirmed the Republican-controlled senate will first consider a bill to construct the Keystone XL oil pipeline when they begin work next year. However, the legislation would still need to get by the president’s desk and he may veto it. “We’ll be starting next year with a job-creating bill that enjoys… Keep reading →
Ed. note: This is a new weekly column by Elie Mystal, Managing Editor of Above the Law Redline. This space will focus on the laws that exist, should exist, and should be put out of their misery. OVER-REGULATED Iranian Sanctions: You probably know that crude oil prices are ridiculously lower than they were a few… Keep reading →
The United States and China made a big splash this past month with the announcement of an important climate agreement between the two superpowers. President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping jointly pledged November 11 in Beijing to make significant CO2 reductions in the next two decades. The United States will reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28% below 2005 levels by 2025, accelerating the pace of reductions already planned by 2020. China will peak its CO2 emissions no later than 2030, by which point the country will obtain 20% of its energy supply from non-fossil fuel sources. China’s commitment marks the first time the country has pledged to stop its rapidly increasing emissions; the nation has previously resisted calls for reductions, saying that as a developing country, the pollution increases are necessary for its growth. This agreement preceded a November 16 communiqué by G20 leaders to focus their policies and investments on cleaner and renewable energy sources with the goal of mitigating climate change. The next step began December 1 at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change conference in Lima, Peru.
An Oil Boom is a Power Boon U.S. News (Lamont Colucci): OPEC met on Nov. 27, and openly recognized that the United States’ oil technological revolution – driven by enhanced oil recovery methods including hydraulic fracturing (known as fracking) and horizontal drilling – has undermined the cartel’s economic and political power. This constitutes one of the… Keep reading →
Tax reform talk is heating up in Congress as they hurry to pass a tax extenders bill before year end. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley wants the controversial wind energy production tax credit included in the bill. “I’m concerned about rumors that some are working to leave out or shorten the extension of the wind energy… Keep reading →
Ed. note: This is a new weekly column by Elie Mystal, Managing Editor of Above the Law Redline. This space will focus on the laws that exist, should exist, and should be put out of their misery. OVER-REGULATED Chinese Diplomacy: Let me get this straight: our new “deal” with China involves the U.S. agreeing to… Keep reading →
Long viewed as a more expensive short-term solution to pipelines, it appears transporting crude oil via rail is likely to continue in conjunction with pipeline infrastructure. As North American oil production crept steadily higher over the past several years, the output surge overwhelmed existing pipelines and producers turned to railroads to move their product.… Keep reading →
The energy poverty issue is being drawn into stark relief in India, where the government is pursuing an aggressive coal expansion strategy as it seeks to bring electricity to the over 300 million people without. The New York Times reports air quality in cities is worse than China, rising seas will impact the country disproportionately… Keep reading →
In this LEVICK Daily video interview, LEVICK’s Lanny Davis and Jessica Lenard examine how the 2014 midterm elections will impact public policy moving forward. While there is no clear consensus on precisely what to expect on Capitol Hill, in state legislatures, and in local jurisdictions across the country, there are pressing issues that will no doubt warrant elected officials’ attention.… Keep reading →
