Last month President Obama defended administration policies on oil and natural gas development after opponents of Arctic drilling criticized a federal agency’s decision to give conditional approval to Shell’s exploratory drilling plans in the Chukchi Sea off Alaska. The president: Until the U.S. transitions to other fuel “we are going to continue to be using fossil fuels.… Keep reading →
The US Department of Defense recently announced its latest round of annual jet fuel contracts and the bill came to almost $4 billion. That’s down about 20 percent from the last time the DOD awarded similar contracts and the military can thank cheaper crude oil for the discount. The US Air Force conversion from military-specific… Keep reading →
Former FERC Chairman, Jon Wellinghoff spoke in an interview about the need to harden the electric grid from security threats by expanding the use of microgrids and distributed generation. “People are beginning to understand that they need their own onsite capabilities to island themselves from the grid. That’s because the grid’s external vulnerabilities will continue… Keep reading →
Ed. note: This is a 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 Oil That Funds Terrorism: Evil crackpot Zacarias Moussaoui, a former Al-Qaeda operative in prison because we caught him,… Keep reading →
With gasoline prices lower than they’ve been in years, it’s easy to get complacent about weaning ourselves from petroleum. Sure, you might be spending less at the pump. But don’t forget the high cost our country pays for its over-dependence on oil – not just in terms of dollars, but in terms of national security, our economy… Keep reading →
This analysis suggests the Soviet Union’s surprise Sputnik launch led to the creation of DARPA and ultimately the most technically advanced military in the world. Some of those technologies spilled over into civilian life and are now ubiquitous. Could the US military pioneer climate-change mitigating energy advancements? Perhaps not without a “Sputnik moment.” [Weekly Wonk]… Keep reading →
Russian national oil company Rosneft is expanding development at its Vankor field in Eastern Siberia and recently announced its beginning construction of a pipeline that will link a satellite field – Suzun – to the Vankor complex. “According to geologic data form January 2014, reserves of oil and condensate of the Suzun field total over… Keep reading →
The suggestion that ISIS-related militants could team up with Mexican drug cartels to disable the US power grid for an extended period of time seems a bit alarmist, but worth noting, particularly in light of 2 recent substation attacks in California. US power grid vulnerability, be it from cyber attack or direct assault, has been… Keep reading →
A proposed coal export terminal in Oregon was denied a permit because the project would cause harm to tribal fisheries along the Columbia River. “Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) applauded the state agency’s rejection of the permit, telling the Oregonian, ‘Columbia River tribes have fundamental rights to these fisheries,’ and any project that threatens those… Keep reading →
A Data Spill from an Oil Rig: Protecting Mobile Devices from ‘Leaky’ Apps
By Andrew HoogThe energy industry is increasingly a mobile (not Mobil, pun intended) enterprise, where foremen, floor-hands, roughnecks and drillers use smartphones and tablets throughout the workday. These devices contain vital information – including confidential data – about everything from codes to operate heavy machinery and geological studies about untapped reservoirs of natural gas and oil to intellectual property about a… Keep reading →