NATURAL GAS
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…...
2012 EIA data show that U.S. energy-related emissions dropped to lowest levels since 1994 due to a decline in energy consumption and overall carbon intensity. On October 21, 2013, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its 2012 report on U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The report, derived from EIA’s monthly energy data, highlighted that 2012…...
The U.S. ranks 5th out of 13 heavily oil-dependent countries that are highly vulnerable to global oil price fluctuations. On October 14, 2013, Securing America’s Future Energy and Roubini Global Economics released the Oil Security Index, which assesses the relative oil security of 13 countries including the U.S. The report emphasizes the need for active…...
The Senate has unanimously approved a bill to implement the U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Hydrocarbons Agreement aimed to facilitate offshore drilling cooperation in the Gulf of Mexico. On October 12, 2013, the Senate unanimously approved S. 812 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to implement the 2012 U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Hydrocarbons Agreement. The agreement establishes a legal…...
The Alaska LNG project team has selected Nikiski as the lead site for the proposed liquefaction plant and terminal. On October 7, 2013, ExxonMobil, BP, ConocoPhillips, and TransCanada, announced the selection of Nikiski on the Kenai Peninsula as a lead liquefaction plant and terminal site for the Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project. Prior…...
EIA estimates show the U.S. is poised to become the world’s largest petroleum and natural gas producer in 2013, overtaking Russia and Saudi Arabia. On October 4, 2013, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released a comparative estimate of petroleum and natural gas production in the U.S., Russia, and Saudi Arabia, showing that the U.S. is…...
EPA will solicit public input for its proposed carbon dioxide emissions standards for existing power plants through a series of scheduled listening sessions. On September 30, 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a schedule of 11 public listening sessions across the U.S. to solicit input for its proposed carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions standards for…...
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has proposed regulations that would authorize new LNG facilities in the state for the first time since a 1973 explosion. On September 26, 2013, the New York State DEC proposed regulations that would permit siting, construction, and operation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) truck fueling stations…...
Shell has selected Louisiana’s Ascension Parish as the potential site for its Gulf Coast natural gas-to-liquids facility. On September 24, 2013, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and Royal Dutch Shell announced selection of Louisiana’s Ascension Parish as the site for a proposed Gulf Coast natural gas-to-liquids (GTL) plant, a cost of least $12.5 billion. Shell will also fund…...