Four of nine ‘planetary boundaries’ have now been breached as a result of human activity and not natural variability, says a new research paper published in the journal Science entitled “Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet”. The ‘planetary boundaries’ framework was first introduced in 2009 by an international group of scientists led… Keep reading →
This Summer, the EPA will propose rules to more widely require REC technologies to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas wells 40-45 percent by 2025. EPA Regulations Could Add Costs to Constrained Industry On January 14, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) outlined measures to reduce methane emissions and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in… Keep reading →
Analysts and economists are trying to figure out how falling oil prices impact various economic sectors. Many 401ks and pension funds invest in oil companies, but as long as funds are diversified they should not be hit too badly by the oil price decline. “But this is precisely why investment advisers tell us to diversify,… Keep reading →
Most U.S. homes are heated with either furnaces or boilers. Furnaces heat air and distribute the heated air through the house using ducts. Boilers heat water, and provide either hot water or steam for heating. Steam is distributed via pipes to steam radiators, and hot water can be distributed via baseboard radiators or radiant floor… Keep reading →
The extremely steep and fast oil price decline is hitting companies hard, with projects cancelled and workers being laid off. As analysts scramble to evaluate which companies are most vulnerable in the lower oil price environment, some are trying to figure out when oil prices might recover some of their recent losses. For his part,… 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, geology,… Keep reading →
The second big round of SolarWorld’s controversial trade cases ended in the usual fashion on Wednesday, with the U.S. International Trade Commission handing the Oregon-based unit of the German company a final victory that expands duties on Chinese solar manufacturers and penalizes Taiwanese companies that underpriced their solar products in the United States. The ITC… Keep reading →
The recent surprise drop in crude oil prices is having big impacts on international LNG prices and may cause a slowdown in the development of LNG export plants globally. LNG is liquefied natural gas, cooled to a temperature of -260° F, for the purpose of compression and transportation. International shipments of LNG by container ship… Keep reading →
Energy policy, a key part of President Barack Obama’s 2014 State of the Union address, played a muted role in the speech he delivered one year later. It was ironic, given the significant actions to reshape the U.S. energy profile and forestall climate change that the administration has taken and that continue to unfold. The… Keep reading →
An App a Day: Keep the Chaos Away
By Bill StompThe energy industry is no stranger to technology. But, ironically, many technology professionals are strangers to the energy industry. Specifically, developers of applications for mobile devices – the authors of the purported tools that will improve operations, increase productivity and streamline logistics for a variety of companies – do not necessarily understand key aspects of the energy… Keep reading →