“Peak oil” is a term that’s been bandied about for decades, but almost always in reference to supply, not demand. The Economist is calling oil “yesterday’s fuel”. “The world’s thirst for oil could be nearing a peak. That is bad news for producers, excellent for everyone else.” [Economist] There’s a nice (and very thorough) piece… Keep reading →
The definition has changed considerably over the years. The phrase “utility-scale solar” is heard so frequently in discussions about renewable energy that it comes as a bit of a shock when one realizes that there is no commonly accepted definition as to what size constitutes “utility-scale.” If you don’t believe it, a quick Google search… Keep reading →
An industry economic analysis report estimates that BLM’s revised draft of regulations governing hydraulic fracturing on public lands would cost at least $345 million. On July 22, 2013, the Western Energy Alliance and the Independent Petroleum Association of America released an analysis of compliance costs of the Department of Interior’s (DOI) revised draft rule… Keep reading →
US President Barack Obama said in a July 27 interview with the New York Times that construction of the Keystone XL pipeline would create around 2,000 jobs during construction – which he estimated would last one to two years – after which that number would fall off to 50-100. Oil and gas trade group API, unsurprisingly,… Keep reading →
The tight oil being developed in North America is certainly not the lowest-cost oil in the world. But of the opportunities available to major oil companies, relatively low cost is just one of many advantages it offers over other sources of production. “The shale revolution has changed the competitive landscape, because every investment decision we… Keep reading →
Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz suggested a “new workable long-term goal” to manage nuclear waste at a hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Environment and the Economy Subcommittee on the grounds that disputes over Yucca Mountain – site of a proposed nuclear waste repository – are likely to persist for some time. “Moniz pushed back on the… Keep reading →
Norway, Alaska and Alberta are broadly recognized as having managed their oil resource wealth relatively effectively, particularly in regards to having avoided the “resource curse” – a seemingly counterintuitive situation in which the economies of countries with substantial natural resource endowments fare worse than those of their non-resource-rich counterparts. Each of the three has established… Keep reading →
With all the great speakers and presentations at the USAEE /IAEE North American Conference in Anchorage this week, it’s hard to pick and choose among so many well-expressed ideas. Our USAEE updates represent just a few of our favorite quotes from the ongoing events. Oil and gas operations always come with risk. When accidents happen,… Keep reading →
Five people will make a decision soon that will have an outsized impact on the future of renewable energy in America. I’m not talking about big shots like Obama, Koch, Boehner, Bloomberg, or Steyer. I’m talking about names many have never heard of: Moeller, Norris, LaFleur, Clark, and Binz (if he is confirmed). These are the chief… Keep reading →
The tight oil revolution in the Lower 48 United States has upended previous assumptions about the trajectory of the country’s oil production trends, with some forecasts now suggesting that the US could temporarily overtake Saudi Arabia in total production volume. There is no shortage of skeptics about these optimistic forecasts, but US tight oil will… Keep reading →
