Energy Tomorrow Blog
An Energy Dozen
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Mary Schaper
Posted June 3, 2016
As social media really wants you to know, today is National Doughnut Day, so whether you spell it long or go with donut for short, here are an "energy dozen" to take in while enjoying your tasty treat.
Consumers Need More Protection From RFS
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Mark Green
Posted November 30, 2015
In finalizing ethanol volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the EPA is basically testing the limits of the ethanol “blend wall” and the potential impacts of breaching it. Unfortunately, the guinea pigs in the experiment are U.S. consumers – their wallets, their vehicles.
That’s what we draw from EPA’s requirements for levels of corn ethanol and other renewable fuels that must be blended into the U.S. fuel supply. EPA officially set requirements for 2014 (two years late), 2015 (a year late) and 2016. Requirements for 2016 are the most significant – 18.11 billion gallons, which is lower than what Congress originally required when it created the RFS, but higher than what EPA proposed in May (17.4 billion gallons).
The Science of Obfuscation
analysis oil sands ghg emissions heavy crude state department canada keystone xl pipeline
Mark Green
Posted June 24, 2015
A few observations on an Energy Department-funded study that reportedly asserts Canadian oil sands will yield significantly greater emissions than conventional crude oil. We say “reportedly,” because the study itself isn’t out yet, just the abstract. Even so, the Wall Street Journal breathlessly says the “findings provide ammunition to foes of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline and other critics of surging Canadian oil output.”
Now, take a deep breath.
We’ve posted on this claim before. President Obama brought it up a couple months ago to justify more than six years of delaying a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline by the White House. Certainly, assigning alarming greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to oil sands boosts an anti-KXL, anti-oil sands position. But it’s a faulty comparison.
Keystone XL: Passing the Emissions Test
keystone xl pipeline ghg emissions state department oil sand production
Mark Green
Posted February 6, 2014
The folks at the Energy Collective hosted an interesting webchat discussion of the Keystone XL pipeline the other day, a good part of which focused on greenhouse gas emissions from the project and oil sands development – identified by President Obama as a key basis for his pipeline decision.
The big takeaway here: Even at the high end of estimates in the State Department’s latest Keystone XL environmental review, emissions would be a tiny fraction of global totals – hardly proving that the project would significantly exacerbate climate change.
American Energy for America's Energy Future
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Mark Green
Posted October 1, 2013
Jobs, U.S. energy security and regulation are leading the discussion at the North American Gas Forum (NAGF) this week in Washington. The NAGF is a gathering of regional natural gas industry members -- primarily focused on issues that affect the distribution and use of natural gas domestically and globally. Highlights from the two-day meeting:
- Because of vast shale reserves, the U.S. has a chance to be more secure in the future through safe, reliable supplies of North American energy.
ICF International's Kevin Petak predicted the Marcellus Shale Play will become a "juggernaut," producing more than 20 million cubic feet of natural gas per day by 2035. The U.S. Energy Information Administration's Howard Gruenspecht said U.S. natural gas production is expected to outpace domestic consumption and that the U.S. could become a net exporter by 2040.
Hydraulic Fracturing - Recycling the Ridiculous
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Mark Green
Posted August 2, 2012
Apples, Oranges, and the Oil Sands
oil sands keystone xl ghg emissions ghg energy policy emissions crude oil
Sabrina Fang
Posted May 23, 2012
The Court Denies a Motion, but the Battle Rages On
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Jane Van Ryan
Posted December 13, 2010
Proposed Truck Regulations: 'An Empty Suit'
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Jane Van Ryan
Posted November 5, 2010
EPA and the Election
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Jane Van Ryan
Posted November 4, 2010