2015 Oil Prices: U.S. to Emerge as Dominant Player Business Day: For years, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) pulled the strings set the price of oil and controlled the supply. After dictating the course of oil prices for more than 50 years, OPEC is finding its influence diminished. Right now, OPEC represents about 40… Keep reading →
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We will never sell or share your information without your consent. See our privacy policy.Denmark Outstrips Germany as the ‘Energiewende’ Model Country
By Roman KilisekBack in October 2014, EU leaders agreed on the 2030 framework for climate and energy policies – aimed at making both the EU economy and its energy system more sustainable, secure and competitive – with a ‘domestic’ 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of at least 40 per cent compared to 1990 levels. Here, the… Keep reading →
Amid Global Efforts, New York Plants Seeds for Energy Reform in 2014 That Will Bloom in 2015
By Environmental Defense Fund Energy Exchange BlogIn the future, when we look back on 2014, I believe it will be remembered as the tipping point for climate action. In the Northeast, we’ll remember the devastating early-season snowstorm that caused over a dozen deaths. In the Southwest, many will remember the third-straight year of a drought that seems without end. And, nationally, many… Keep reading →
Energy News Roundup: Hedges Insulate US Oil Producers, Energy Infrastructure Attack in 2015? And Bearish Oil Market Fundamentals Persist
By Jared AndersonMany large US oil producers have oil price hedges in place through the beginning of 2015 or for the entire year that are helping blunt the impact of lower oil prices. Some companies may be able to cash in on well positioned hedges and use the funds to purchase new positions that can help weather… Keep reading →
Best of 2014: Our Year in Review
By U.S. Department of EnergyWe’ve been busy this year! In 2014 the Energy Department advanced clean energy technologies, welcomed a new Deputy Secretary, promoted STEM careers and much more. 2014 has been a year of investments, breakthroughs and progress at the Energy Department. Read on and explore the timeline to see some of our most memorable moments. Investments From… Keep reading →
Sanctions Update: The U.S. And The EU Impose Further Measures Against Russia
By Alexandra Allan, Tom Evans, Siân Fellows, Alexandra Gordon, Leigh Hansson, Michael Lowell, David Myers, Hena Schommer | Reed SmithU.S. Passes New Sanctions Authorizing Statute – Sends Russia Frigid End of Year Message
President Obama: U.S. will “review and calibrate” sanctions in response to Russia’s actions
On December 18, 2014, President Obama signed into law the Ukraine Freedom and Support Act of 2014 (“the Act”), the latest move in a series of sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and the EU over the past year (full coverage of the Russia sanctions can be found here). While the Act gives the president authority to implement new sanctions against Russia, President Obama has declined to enforce the new provisions at this time. The strategy behind this move is unclear, though it appears to be a “wait and see” approach with the hope that even just the threat of new U.S. sanctions will curb Russia’s destabilizing efforts in Ukraine and the wider Eastern Europe and Central Asia regions. It is also believed that the U.S. administration wants to continue to remain in lock-step with the EU and its imposition of sanctions against Russia.
Monitoring Wind Conditions Can Improve Transmission Performance
By Smart Grid NewsThe electric power industry has been looking at ways to improve transmission line performance for some time, exploring superconducting cables as well as ways to wring more power delivery capacity out of traditional cables currently in place. Now, wind researchers at DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) say monitoring the weather can do quite a lot… Keep reading →
In a Low Oil Price Environment: Increasing Oil Field Productivity via Microbially Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR)
By Roman KilisekEvery year Germany’s Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) publishes its annual BGR Report showcasing BGR scientists’ work on fascinating projects in the world of geosciences. All projects are driven by BGR’s mission statement – “Planet Earth represents the basis for all our lives – its resources are limited” – and underscore BGR’s… Keep reading →
Increase in Crude Oil Rail Deliveries Reflects Rising Production
By Enerknol ResearchThe continued increase in rail transportation of U.S. crude oil reflects rising production, which reached 8.5 million bbl/d in June 2014, the highest since July 1986. On December 24, 2014, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released a report showing that the amount of U.S. crude oil and refined petroleum products transported by rail increased by… Keep reading →
Energy News Roundup: Top 5 Smart Grid Trends, Tanker Bombed in Libya and Renewable Provide 13% of US Power
By Jared AndersonThe smart grid has been slow to materialize for a combination of factors including investment challenges, but 2014 featured some important advances. “But these challenges also helped define the opportunities for companies, utilities and regulators working on building the next stage of smart grid — a “smart grid 2.0,” if you will. From building on… Keep reading →