Petroleum geologist, with a median salary of $183,000, ranked #6 on a CNN-Payscale list of the country’s top 100 jobs. Also on the list were reservoir engineer (10), petroleum engineer (25), geophysicist (55) and other energy-specific titles. Apparently the financial side of the business is less fun…energy analyst came in at #100. Energy blogger didn’t make the cut. [Fuel Fix]

The US House of Representatives will be taking up multiple energy bills this week, including legislation to streamline energy permitting on federal lands, to limit the Interior Department’s authority to impose hydraulic fracturing regulations and to require timely review of all new natural gas pipeline applications. [HBW Resources]

A paucity of rare earth metals is hindering deployment of clean energy technologies, from wind turbines to next-generation fluorescent light bulbs. “The move toward new and better technologies — from smart phones to electric cars — means an ever-increasing demand for exotic metals that are scarce thanks to both geology and politics.” [Yale Environment 360]