FOSSIL FUELS

[Report] NY REV Straw Proposal Recommends Utility-Owned Distributed Energy Resources

The New York Department of Public Service (DPS) staff has issued a Straw Proposal on achieving the Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) Track One goals. The straw proposal reaffirms the initial April 24 proceeding which identified utilities’ role in managing a distributed system platform (DSP) and growing the state’s existing Distributed Energy Resource (DER) assets. Despite…...

New 550-Mile Natural Gas Pipeline to Supply Virginia and North Carolina

Four energy companies have formed a joint venture to advance the proposed 550-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline to transport Marcellus and Utica natural gas to Virginia and North Carolina. On September 2, 2014, Dominion Resources, Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, and AGL Resources announced a joint venture to build the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline to provide…...

State Coalition Defends EPA’s Commitment to Address Power Plant Emissions

An 11-state coalition led by NY Attorney General has filed a motion to dispute a lawsuit by a 12-state coalition challenging EPA’s commitments to address power plant emissions. On September 2, 2014, a coalition of 11 states – California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, the District of Columbia –…...

California and Quebec Join Carbon Markets to Minimize Compliance Burden

On August 7, 2014, California and Quebec held a successful practice joint carbon emissions allowance auction in preparation for the first ever cross-border auction on November 2014. Despite varied participation levels in Quebec’s first four auctions, activity is expected to increase with program maturity and the upcoming 2015 compliance deadline.The programs – under the Western…...

EIA Report: U.S. Liquid Fuels Growth Counterbalances Global Supply Disruptions

According to EIA, U.S. liquid fuels production growth has significantly contributed to counterbalancing unplanned global supply disruptions and decreasing crude oil price volatility since 2011. On August 27, 2014, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released a report highlighting the significant role of U.S. liquid fuels production growth in counterbalancing global supply disruptions in recent years,…...

Final Revised Procedures for LNG Export Decisions

The DOE will act on LNG export applications involving non-FTA countries only after completing the National Environmental Policy Act review and halt its practice of issuing conditional authorizations. On August 15, 2014, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy published final revised procedures for liquefied natural gas (LNG) export decisions involving non-Free Trade…...

[Report] Oil and Gas Production from Federal Lands Faces Permitting Challenges

Federal lands contain significant oil and gas reserves, however federal staffing resource challenges have led to decreases in resource development and delayed state and federal revenue. The proposed BLM Permit Processing Improvement Act of 2014 (S. 2440) has significant bipartisan support, and its passage would expand and extend upon the current federal land permitting program…...

Colorado Court Invalidates Fort Collins Hydraulic Fracturing Ban

A Colorado District Court has ruled against Fort Collins’ hydraulic fracturing ban, following a similar ruling that invalidated Longmont’s hydraulic fracturing ban in July. On August 7, 2014, the Larimer County District Court ruled that the City of Fort Collins’ ordinance imposing a five-year ban on hydraulic fracturing is preempted by the Colorado Oil and…...