NATURAL GAS
President Obama has ordered a comprehensive energy strategy review to ensure federal policies continue to address changing energy requirements. On January 9, 2014, President Obama signed a memorandum establishing a Quadrennial Energy Review (QER) to enhance the federal government’s capability to provide a comprehensive and integrated energy strategy to meet challenges posed by rising energy…...
EPA has published its long-anticipated proposed carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions standards for new power plants, setting separate limits for new coal- and natural gas-fired plants. On January 8, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published proposed New Source Performance Standards to regulate CO2 emissions from new fossil fuel-fired electric generating units (EGUs). EPA also published…...
EIA’s latest Annual Energy Outlook (AEO) projects a 56 percent increase in natural gas production by 2040, overtaking coal as the largest share of U.S. electric power generation. On December 16, 2013, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released the AEO 2014 Early Release Overview presenting updated projections for U.S. energy markets through 2040. The AEO…...
Oil and gas industry groups have expressed disapproval of a Senate tax-reform draft citing proposals that would deter domestic investment and job creation. On December 13, 2013, a group of 14 oil and gas trade groups led by the American Petroleum Institute (API) sent a letter to Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT), stating that…...
DOE has released an $8B loan guarantee solicitation to finance innovative and advanced fossil energy projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. On December 12, 2013, the Department of Energy (DOE) launched its $8B loan guarantee program, soliciting applications to finance projects that employ innovative or significantly improved fossil energy technologies, such as advanced resource development,…...
A new study finds that U.S. methane emissions are highly underestimated by current studies. A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on November 25, 2013 found that U.S. methane emissions could be 50 percent higher than current estimates. Specifically, nationwide anthropogenic methane emissions are likely to be 1.5 times…...
The House has passed a bill aimed to expedite federal review of natural gas pipeline permit applications. On November 21, 2013, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act (H.R. 1900), a bipartisan legislation aimed to expedite review of licenses, permits, and approvals pertinent to siting, construction, expansion, and operation…...
A new methanol production facility proposed for Texas will be the largest of its kind in the U.S., spurred by cheap and abundant natural gas availability. On November 21, 2013, OCI N.V., a Dutch fertilizer company, announced plans to build a methanol production facility in Beaumont, Texas. The facility, with an estimated annual capacity of…...
The House has approved two energy bills that would expedite permit issuance for drilling on federal lands and prevent duplicative hydraulic fracturing regulations. On November 20, 2013, the U.S. House of Representatives approved two bills – Federal Lands Jobs and Energy Security Act (H.R. 1965) and Protecting States’ Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act…...
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has announced support for a draft bill aimed to scale back EPA’s proposed emissions rules for new power plants. On November 11, 2013, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce wrote to Congress expressing support for a draft bill that would limit the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ability to set greenhouse gas…...
Florida has approved contracts to build its third natural gas pipeline – from Southwest Alabama to South Florida. On October 24, 2013, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) approved Florida Power & Light’s (FPL) prudence review request for contracts to construct a $3.5B, 591-mile, interstate natural gas pipeline. PSC determined that the pipeline will provide…...
EPA’s latest GHG emissions data show that power plant emissions declined by 10 percent between 2010 and 2012 due to increased natural gas use. On October 23, 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) released its third annual report detailing facility-level greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data from large industrial sources across…...