The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a Preliminary Notice of Violation (PNOV) to Fluor-B&W Portsmouth, LLC (FBP) for three violations of worker safety and health regulations associated with an incident at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, Ohio. The incident took place on October 9, 2012 in which a 60-ton mobile hydraulic… Keep reading →
ARPA-E has announced $33M in funding under its new REBELS program to support innovative distributed generation technologies. On June 19, 2014, the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) announced $33M in funding for 13 projects through its new Reliable Electricity Based on Electrochemical Systems (REBELS) program. The new projects will focus on… Keep reading →
Lighting makers keep their options open for smart home platforms. Just over a year ago, the emergence of a sub-$10 light-emitting diode (LED) bulb was big news for the lighting industry. The same pricing trends are headed for smart bulbs too. Now, for just a few dollars more, consumers can buy a GE LED light bulb for… Keep reading →
Quick Take: We are learning that more than 1,000 utilities in the U.S. and Europe have had their computer systems compromised by malware. My first question: Why do utilities have to get this kind of warning through news stories long after the fact? Why don’t we have a system set up for sharing new dangers as… Keep reading →
This past weekend, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released the latest figures for the 2012 State Energy Data System (SEDS). Each year, EIA publishes comprehensive statistical estimates that explore energy production, consumption, prices and expenditure, with historical figures and state-by-state breakdowns. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be bringing you a few graphics and maps using SEDS, aimed at… Keep reading →
The energy industry – oil & gas sector in particular – is bracing itself for a massive wave of retirements over the short to medium term, which has been dubbed “The Great Shift Change.” As the industry prepares for this turnover, companies are looking to the next generation of candidates with skills ranging from finance,… Keep reading →
Washington should look for small changes in Kuwait and Qatar’s political and security calculus that could provide opportunities to support counter-terrorist financing measures there. On April 30, the U.S. State Department noted that private donations from Persian Gulf countries were “a major source of funding for Sunni terrorist groups, particularly…in Syria,” calling the problem one… Keep reading →
At the Energy Department’s National Labs, big science requires big resources, and supercomputers are no exception. Twice a year, scientists issue the list of the top 500 fastest supercomputers in the world. In the most recent ranking, released just last week, the Energy Department’s National Labs were recognized for having 26 of the top 500… Keep reading →
Allowing Exports of Crude Oil Would Boost the Economy Washington Post Editorial: Quietly but wisely, the Commerce Department has decided to allow the first exports of U.S. crude oil since Congress imposed a ban on such sales (except to Canada) in the 1970s. To be sure, the agency’s ruling amounts to redefining crude in a way that applies… Keep reading →
This [last] week, during a special hearing by the Joint Economic Committee of Congress, legislators gathered a cross-section of industry, policy, and environmental leaders to testify about the economic impacts of increased natural gas development. I was one of the witnesses, on behalf of Environmental Defense Fund, arguing that natural gas can only be a net… Keep reading →
