FOSSIL FUELS
A finalized management plan for National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) opens approximately half of the 23 million acreage for oil and gas development and allows construction of an oil and gas pipeline through the reserve. On February 21, 2013, Secretary of the Department of Interior (DOI) Ken Salazar signed the Record of Decision (ROD) for NPR-A,…...
TransCanada states that Keystone XL pipeline would have minimal environmental impact, adding a new asset to their list of benefits, which includes economic growth and stringent safety measures for construction and operation. At a forum held on February 19, 2013, TransCanada and Keystone XL supporters reiterated the pipeline’s potential to create multiple U.S. economic benefits including energy…...
A new Government report shows need for streamlined interstate and intrastate natural gas pipeline permitting process. On February 15, 2013, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report revealing an increasingly fragmented multi-stakeholder permitting processes for interstate and intrastate natural gas pipeline construction. Application approvals are time-consuming and overly complex due to multiple regulators having jurisdiction…...
Companies working on the Alaska LNG Export project released a report on pipeline progress, fulfilling another round of benchmarks laid out by Governor Parnell. On February 15, 2013, North Slope energy giants Exxon Mobil, BP, and ConocoPhillips, along with Calgary-based TransCanada, submitted a report to Alaskan Governor Sean Parnell, detailing new developments in their proposed Alaska…...
New York State’s decision to permit hydraulic fracturing faced yet another delay, citing more time needed for the health department to complete its ongoing public health review. On February 12, 2013, New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Nirav Shah wrote to the Department of Environmental Commission (DEC) stating that the ongoing hydraulic fracturing impact review…...
President Obama outlined bold actions to combat climate change, elaborating on his inaugural vow to address the issue. Obama further pledged to use his executive power to tackle climate change challenges if Congress denied action. At his State of the Union (SOTU) speech on February 12, 2013, President Obama cast a bold vision on climate change…...
Divided opinions over climate change issues delayed approval of the draft oversight plan in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Democrats called to amend the draft plan to hold hearings on climate change science, an issue that Republicans have long opposed. On February 6, 2013, democrats in the House Energy and Commerce Committee introduced a…...
On January 22, 2013, Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman approved a new Nebraska route for the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline, setting the stage for the Obama administration to make a final decision on the long-drawn-out subject. Following Governor Heineman’s approval, the reroute becomes part of TransCanada’s Presidential Permit application filed with the State Department on…...
Recognizing the need to upgrade New York’s energy infrastructure in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Governor Cuomo’s plans would fundamentally redesign the state’s power system. In his 2013 State of the State report, the Governor highlighted increased grid resiliency, renewable power integration, and reduced dependence on centralized power systems. Governor Cuomo’s proposals follow an interim report…...
A federal court decision on January 15, 2013 denied petitions challenging an EPA ruling that permits the use of a 15% ethanol fuel blend (E15) for light-duty gasoline-fueled vehicles. The step is a major victory for the biofuels industry, with several facilities just beginning to reach commercial production levels. The decision will also help the industry…...
Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) on January 4, 2013 released the Final Evaluation Report of Keystone XL pipeline’s proposed northern leg from Alberta, Canada to Steel City, Nebraska. The report submitted to Governor Dave Heineman states that construction and operation of the rerouted pipeline with adequate mitigation efforts would have minimal environmental impact. It…...
California regulators released the state’s first draft regulations for hydraulic fracturing. The industry views the move as a positive start to drive oil and gas development in California, which has some of the strictest well safety regulations. The move could result in dramatic expansion of drilling activities in the state’s Monterey Shale, a major oil…...