NATURAL GAS
On September 18, the House Energy and Commerce Committee heard testimony from EPA and DOE officials on the Obama Administration’s climate change policies and continued the debate over the requirement to require Carbon Capture and Sequestration technologies in future sources. On September 20, the EPA released its draft rule to set national emissions limits on…...
DOE’s fourth LNG export approval comes just weeks after the previous (Lake Charles) approval, indicating an improved timeline for evaluating pending applications. On September 11, 2013, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced conditional authorization for Dominion Cove Point LNG LP to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to non-Free Trade Agreement (non-FTA) nations. The authorization, subject…...
Freeport LNG has entered into long-term natural gas liquefaction tolling agreements with two Asian companies. On September 9, 2013, Freeport LNG Expansion LP announced that it has signed agreements with two Asian companies to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) from its proposed natural gas liquefaction and loading facility at Quintana Island, Texas. The two separate…...
NY Court of Appeals will decide whether state municipalities can use local zoning laws to ban hydraulic fracturing. On August 29, 2013, the Albany Court of Appeals announced its decision to consider two lawsuits challenging the authority of New York (NY) State municipalities to enact local zoning laws to ban oil and gas development using…...
EIA data shows 40 percent growth in oil and gas industry employment from 2007 through 2012, compared to one percent growth in total private sector employment. On August 8, 2013, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released a report comparing job growth in the oil and gas industry with total private sector employment growth, drawing on…...
Lake Charles Exports, LLC becomes the third facility to obtain DOE authorization to export U.S. LNG to non-FTA countries. On August 7, 2013, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced conditional authorization of Lake Charles Exports (LCE), a jointly-owned subsidiary of BG Group and Southern Union Company, to export U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) to non-free…...
EPA’s revised 2012 VOC emissions standards for oil and natural gas storage tanks provides phased-in emission control deadlines, addressing higher-emitting tanks first and providing sufficient time to install controls. On August 5, 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released final revisions to its 2012 New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions…...
EIA projects a 56 percent growth in world energy consumption by 2040, driven by economic growth in emerging countries. Over its 2010-2040 projection period, renewables and nuclear are the fastest-growing sources, though fossil fuels continue to supply 80 percent of energy consumption. On July 25, 2013, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its 2013 International…...
At the Senate hearing on the FAIR Act, the DOI declined support for the bill, saying it lacks definite conservation or energy policy goals, would increase the federal deficit, and reduce return to taxpayers. At the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing held on July 23, 2013, the Department of Interior’s (DOI) Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget,…...
An industry economic analysis report estimates that BLM’s revised draft of regulations governing hydraulic fracturing on public lands would cost at least $345 million. On July 22, 2013, the Western Energy Alliance and the Independent Petroleum Association of America released an analysis of compliance costs of the Department of Interior’s (DOI) revised draft rule governing…...
NETL has stated nothing of concern has thus far been found for preliminary results of its ongoing hydraulic fracturing study at Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale. On July 19, 2013, the Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) released a preliminary statement of its ongoing hydraulic fracturing study at two Pennsylvania drilling sites. NETL stated that…...
The Energy Consumers Relief Act, approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, would prevent EPA from finalizing major energy-related rules without DOE approval. On July 17, 2013, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved three energy-related bills – H.R. 1582, H.R. 1900, and H.R. 83 – aimed to promote economic growth and energy…...