Scott O’Malia, a member of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said in a recent speech that the commission lacks the technology necessary to effectively track communications between traders and futures exchanges operated by CME Group Inc. and IntercontinentalExchange Group Inc., where a bulk of the world’s oil and natural gas contracts are bought and sold.… Keep reading →
Many Americans lack knowledge on key energy issues, which could be problematic when they vote later this year for congressional representatives who will shape the country’s energy policies. “What is the solution to this ongoing problem of voters not having sufficient energy knowledge? It is information. Women and men need to understand both sides of the… Keep reading →
The secondary laws needed to enact Mexico’s historic constitutional changes that break state oil company Pemex’ 75-year monopoly on oil & gas development will reportedly be released mid-March. Additional laws covering royalties and taxes, however, will not be finalized until September. [Reuters] The Nymex natural gas futures contract for March delivery closed at $6.149 per… Keep reading →
A group of Stanford University researchers published the results of a methane leakage study on February 14 in Science that found volumes of the potent greenhouse gas released from US oil & natural gas development and infrastructure exceeds EPA estimates. “According to the new research, all told, the U.S. leaks about 14 million metric tons… Keep reading →
Louisiana Democrat Mary Landrieu took over as head of the influential Senate Energy Committee yesterday, as outgoing Chairman Ron Wyden took the lead role at the Senate Finance Committee, which was vacated when Max Baucus was confirmed ambassador to China. “Landrieu confirmed that her signature bill to expand the amount of federal offshore oil-and-gas royalty… Keep reading →
Although yesterday’s EIA Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report recorded a smaller draw than analysts expected – 262 Bcf declined from storage, but expectations were around 271 Bcf – and the March NYMEX gas futures contract decreased in price as a result, storage remains historically low and the need to replenish it during injection season could… Keep reading →
Saudi Arabia announced an ambitious natural resource development project in the underpopulated Northern Borders region. Nearly $10 billion in investments and agreements will jumpstart construction on King Abdullah Wa’ad Al-Shamal City, which will include a 1,000 MW power plant and other infrastructure needed to support industrial activity. “President and CEO of Saudi Aramco Khalid Al-Falih… Keep reading →
A 30-megawatt offshore wind pilot project will use 5 floating turbines to generate electric power routed back to the mainland in Coos Bay, Oregon. “We’re not as anxious to commercialize it, but it’s still worth getting the projects into the water and testing them,” said Belinda Batten, director of the Northwest National Marine Renewable… Keep reading →
Majority government-owned Danish utility Dong Energy recently brought in new investors that included two Danish pension funds and US investment bank Goldman Sachs. The Danish public strongly opposed Goldman’s involvement due to several aspects of the deal’s structure and the degree of control Goldman would receive with its 19% equity stake in the company. This… Keep reading →
Extreme cold in the US is testing power generators and grid operators like PJM who are asking customers to reduce consumption during peak demand periods. At the same time, utilities are being pressured by shareholders to close coal plants, thus increasing natural gas reliance. This piece sums up the situation in the Pittsburgh area. [Pittsburgh… Keep reading →
