In 2015, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will address many of the most serious challenges the electric industry faces in multiple proceedings that will be closely followed by industry participants. Those challenges include the retirement of substantial portions of the nation’s generation fleet and the changing composition of that fleet due to the increased use of natural gas and renewable resources.
Cheaper oil has not been translating into economic growth over the last six months and falling oil prices have also stoked deflationary fears. Some countries have been using the drop in oil prices as an opportunity to raise gasoline taxes, slash fuel subsidies or both. China has raised fuel consumption taxes by 50% since November,… Keep reading →
There have been lots of recent headlines about how much money the governments of oil exporting nations will lose as a result of declining oil prices. But these countries will really just earn less money than they would from selling their product at a higher price. The price of oil has never been static and… Keep reading →
Two of the Environmental Protection Agency’s seven statements of purpose reference “best available scientific information” and “accurate information.” These also happen to be two things that many in Washington, D.C., feel that EPA is setting aside in the pursuit of political goals. Yesterday the agency released comments on the Keystone XL pipeline that gave plenty… Keep reading →
Germany’s Siemens has handed over the first of a total of five commissioned North Sea grid connections, the BorWin2 offshore platform, to its customer TenneT, a German-Dutch transmission grid operator, for immediate commercial operation, the company announced in a press release on January 30. TenneT is one of the four Transmission System Operators (TSOs) that… Keep reading →
Labor, business, and environmental leaders have formed a unique coalition that will urge Illinois lawmakers to pass new standards for energy efficiency and renewable energy, leading to tens of thousands of new, local jobs. Members of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, including Environmental Defense Fund, argue that the state should not settle for an old… Keep reading →
The Welsh parliament voted against the use of shale gas fracking in Wales, signaling a discontent within U.K. parliaments over proposed shale gas development. “A proposal against shale gas fracking was voted through in the Welsh Assembly late on Wednesday, effectively making it impossible for shale gas developments to receive planning permits in Wales. Environmentalists,… Keep reading →
Deputy Energy Secretary Sherwood-Randall Highlights a Top Budget Priority in Texas WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, Deputy Secretary Sherwood-Randall traveled to Amarillo, Texas to visit the Pantex Plant, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) site charged with maintaining the safety, security and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile, a critical component of President Obama’s National… Keep reading →
The process of hydraulic fracturing (also known simply as “fracking”) continues to divide the public and public policymakers, even as resulting lower natural gas prices have encouraged industries, including many power plants, to convert from coal-fired boilers as one means as coping with coming limitations on the emissions of carbon monoxide.
The EPA has added fuel to the fire in the debate over Keystone XL. The EPA filed new comments with the State Department that could give the White House additional cover to deny approval of the controversial project. The EPA said that the recent drop in oil prices could mean that construction of the pipeline… Keep reading →
