A recent report by consultancy IHS Cera takes aim at common arguments against development of Canadian oil sands, but acknowledges the need for continued – and improved – environmental monitoring and regulation. Groups opposed to construction of the Keystone XL pipeline frequently feature the following claims on their websites: that the pipeline will not enhance… Keep reading →
Spanish technology firm Abengoa, which operates renewables projects worldwide, has listed its shares on the NASDAQ stock exchange as part of a push effort to raise its profile in the US. Abengoa has singled out the US as a priority market, both for fundraising and for the ongoing growth of its business. “The US market… Keep reading →
CPUC passes controversial mandate for 1.3 gigawatts of batteries, grid storage by 2020 California’s status as the vanguard in pushing energy storage technologies onto the power grid is now official. On Thursday, the California Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved its proposed mandate (PDF) that will require the state’s big three investor-owned utilities to add 1.3… Keep reading →
The Alaska LNG project team has selected Nikiski as the lead site for the proposed liquefaction plant and terminal. On October 7, 2013, ExxonMobil, BP, ConocoPhillips, and TransCanada, announced the selection of Nikiski on the Kenai Peninsula as a lead liquefaction plant and terminal site for the Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project. Prior… Keep reading →
A government shutdown that lasts only a few weeks should have limited impact on the operations of oil and gas companies, such as drilling, plant construction, and other ongoing operations. A longer-term shutdown could be more debilitating, delaying progress on regulatory requirements, such as new permits, or environmental impact studies. Short-term impacts could be much… Keep reading →
The NYS Unified Solar Permit program will streamline the solar project permitting process to cut costs and boost solar development across NY State. On September 20, 2013, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced the NYS Unified Solar Permit program to reduce solar project costs by streamlining municipal permitting processes across… Keep reading →
Ever tried to find out who is in charge when it comes to energy policy? With literally hundreds of agencies and regulators at everything from the local level through state and regions to DC-based policy-makers and even the President, the level of complexity when it comes to understanding energy policy isn’t just frustrating, it is… Keep reading →
The first visible chink in the oil and gas sector’s stance on the Keystone XL pipeline project’s inevitability turned up this week in that house journal of capitalism, the Wall Street Journal. In his provocatively titled article, “U.S. Refiners Don’t Care if Keystone Gets Built,” Ben Lefebvre lists the host of ways that the sector… Keep reading →
A year ago, it was common for energy executives, regulators and critics to marvel at the sense of whiplash they felt from the extraordinary revival of North American natural gas production. Technology shifts long in the making but broadly below the radar of markets underpinned an expansion of the fuel’s market share amid low pricing… Keep reading →
The Environmental Protection Agency is tasked with providing the data used to calculate the average fuel economy of new cars and trucks. With innovative new vehicle models hitting the market, the standard metrics the EPA uses to measure vehicle fuel efficiency are proving ill-equipped to offer accurate comparisons in some cases. The EPA announced yesterday… Keep reading →
