Energy Tomorrow Blog
Energy Today – May 7, 2013
hydraulic fracturing keystone xl pipeline natural gas offshore regulations
Mary Schaper
Posted May 7, 2013
The Hill – The Case for Keystone XL Goes Beyond Jobs and Energy Independence
In a guest column, Brigham McCown argues the benefits of the Keystone XL pipeline would extend beyond jobs and energy security to safety. According to government statistics, pipelines are the safest way to transport energy supplies, writes McCown.
U.S. News and World Report – Lawmakers: Natural Gas Exports Could Erode Political Might of U.S. Adversaries
U.S. News recaps today’s House Subcommittee on Energy and Power hearing, which focused on legislation that would expedite U.S. natural gas exports. Supporters say shipping natural gas to allies could strengthen diplomatic ties, undermine political leverage of adversaries, while also shaving the U.S. trade deficit and creating jobs.
The Tier 3 Game
Bob Greco
Posted May 3, 2013
It’s one thing to have genuine differences over energy regulatory policy – as the oil and natural gas industry has with EPA’s proposed Tier 3 rule further lowering sulfur levels in gasoline. It’s quite another to see that the rulemaking process is being gamed.
Energy Today – May 2, 2013
hydraulic fracturing keystone xl natural gas regulations technology
Mary Schaper
Posted May 2, 2013
The Atlantic – How Oil Made Working-Class North Dakota a Whole Lot Richer
In North Dakota’s Bakken Shale formation, Americans have been able to find high-paying work in the oil and natural gas industry as the state’s employment number grew by more than 35 percent from 2007 to 2011. But another part of this American success story is that jobs and paychecks have surged across industries – including technical services, transport, construction and food services.
Reuters Canada – TransCanada to Build $900 Million Alberta Oil Pipeline, Terminal
Keystone XL opponents claim that stopping the pipeline will keep Canada’s oil sands in the ground. However, as the U.S. waits for President Obama to decide on the Keystone XL Canada is moving forward with plans to move its growing crude oil supplies – and ship them elsewhere.
Energy Today – April 4, 2013
hydraulic fracturing manufacturing natural gas regulations taxes oil
Mary Schaper
Posted April 4, 2013
Forbes – The Top Five Facts Everyone Should Know About Oil and Natural Gas Exploration
Ryan Carlyle, a subsea hydraulics engineer, writes that oil accounts for one-third of humanity’s energy supply, is unrivaled in power generation and is fundamental to lifting billions of people out of poverty. Fun fact: If solar power generation doubled every decade for 100 years, it would still be pretty far behind oil today.
Wall Street Journal – Beware Tax Reform That Raises Taxes on Capital
Of the ongoing congressional debate over tax reform, Margo Thorning writes that “Investment, growth and job creation should be the cornerstones of any tax-reform effort.”
Industry to Government: Work With Us
energy government natural gas regulations
Mark Green
Posted March 7, 2013
America is rich in the oil and natural gas that run our economy and make modern living possible. Industry ingenuity and innovation launched the shale revolution and rewrote the U.S. energy narrative – turning one of scarcity and limited opportunity into one of abundance. Needed are leadership and policies to develop the resources we have, generating transformative job creation and economic growth in the process.
ConocoPhillips Chairman and CEO Ryan Lance talked about these points in a speech at the IHS CERAWeek conference in Houston, focusing on the relationship between the oil and natural gas industry and government – probably the most pivotal relationship in terms of U.S. energy development.Domestic Oil Production and the ‘Teachable Moment’
regulations natural gas liquid fuels imports domestic oil production access
Mark Green
Posted January 9, 2013
The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Short-Term Energy Outlook released this week contains two important crude oil stats:
- U.S. domestic production is expected to continue growing rapidly over the next two years, from an average of 6.4 million barrels per day (bbl/d) last year to 7.3 million bbl/d in 2013 and 7.9 million bbl/d in 2014. Much of the production growth will come from drilling in tight plays in the Williston (North Dakota and Montana), Western Gulf and Permian basins (Texas).
- U.S. liquid fuel imports, including crude oil, are expected to decline to an average of 6 million bbl/d by 2014. EIA says the net import share will average 32 percent in 2014 “because of continued substantial increases in domestic crude oil production.”
Study Provides New Impetus for New York Fracking
energy policy fracking hydraulic fracturing natural gas regulations
Mark Green
Posted January 4, 2013
Here’s the crux of an unreleased (but leaked) New York Department of Environmental Conservation report that weighs the public health impact of natural gas development through hydraulic fracturing:
“…significant adverse impacts on human health are not expected from routine (fracking) operations. When spills or accidents occur, the department has identified numerous additional mitigation measures, including emergency-response planning, setbacks and buffers, so that significant exposures to people and resources on which they rely are unlikely."
Shorter version: Fracking can be done safely in New York.
Retain Current Particulate Matter Standard – Because It’s Working
emissions energy policy epa regulations
Mark Green
Posted December 12, 2012
Later this week EPA is expected to finalize standards for particulate matter 2.5. EPA could and should retain the existing standard. During a conference call with reporters API’s Howard Feldman, director of regulatory and scientific affairs, outlined the reasons:
- Certain costs and doubtful benefits
- Efficacy of the current standard
- Questionable scientific foundation for a new standard
- Poor coordination with other regulatory initiatives
Judging the Cellulosic Mandate
regulations epa cellulosic mandates renewable fuels standard biofuels
Bob Greco
Posted December 10, 2012
Shale Energy Potential – and Reality
domestic energy energy policy natural gas regulations unconventional gas unconventional oil
Mark Green
Posted October 29, 2012