On December 18, 2014, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) released revised draft guidance on the consideration of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change in National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review.[1] The CEQ previously issued this guidance in draft form in February 2010.[2] Rather than finalize that draft, the CEQ opted to issue significantly revised draft guidance and open a 60-day public comment period, which closes on February 23, 2015.[3]
Energy Department Launches Mobile App for Energy Emergencies Lantern Live to Help Users Find Critical Information during Power Disruptions WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Energy launched a mobile app called Lantern Live that helps consumers quickly find and share critical information about nearby gas stations and power outages during energy emergencies. The app builds… Keep reading →
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES IMPROVE GASIFICATION SYSTEMS, REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS WASHINGTON–As part of the Administration’s all-of-the-above energy approach, the Department of Energy has selected four projects to receive funding for next-generation gasification systems that also reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Awardees will receive approximately $16 million to advance the gasification process, which converts carbon-based materials like… Keep reading →
For years analysts have estimated US LNG exports would likely materialize in the 4 to 6 billion cubic foot per day range, but much of the focus has more recently shifted to the regulatory process and backlog of projects seeking approval. The Houston Chronicle’s Jennifer A. Dlouhy shifts attention back to the complex financial juggling… Keep reading →
Americans understand that some debates in Washington are often marked by major philosophical and political differences. And we’ve all watched disagreement amongst the major parties stall controversial issues like financial and healthcare reform and even shut down our government. However, a more startling byproduct is the way partisanship is taking its toll on issues that… Keep reading →
US oil-directed drilling rigs reached 1,443 last week, which is the highest level recorded since Baker Hughes separated its oil and gas rig counts in 1987. “One could argue that all of the increase in the oil rig count this week was because of the Permian,” James Williams, president of WTRG Economics in London, Arkansas,… Keep reading →
The latest budget deal struck in congress – which has yet to pass the House and Senate – does not repeal oil and gas industry tax breaks, but would mean an end to the Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research Program, a public-private partnership seeking to develop technology for harnessing energy… Keep reading →
The intragency panel price per ton of carbon incorporated into the Environmental Protection Agency’s microwave rule seems to set the standard, or at least the starting point, for the federal government’s estimate of the social cost of carbon. Benjamin Zycher, visiting scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, has argued that that cost “fails”. Zycher hosted… Keep reading →
The Department of Energy has come under fire – sometimes in bizarre ways – for appearing to favor renewables and nuclear energy over fossil fuels. Detractors have dubbed the Obama Administration’s Climate Action Plan, which seeks to limit carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, a “War on Coal”. But the DOE last week announced more… Keep reading →
The Center for Biological Diversity is accusing the Obama Administration of violating a 19th-century law by allowing oil and gas companies to continue drilling on public lands that are now closed to other visitors during the government shutdown. “Previously permitted oil and gas development on public lands isn’t affected by the shutdown.” [Fuel Fix] An… Keep reading →
