DOE NETL Hydrogen Research

U.S. Energy Department National Lab Pursues Efforts to Produce Hydrogen From Fossil Energy Resources

The National Energy Technology Laboratory on Jan. 24 announced that its Strategic Systems Analysis & Engineering, or SSAE, researchers are working towards using fossil energy resources to produce hydrogen by adopting advanced hydrogen production and carbon capture technologies. The new initiative by the Energy Department national lab is expected to expand the use of fossil-fuel…

oil and gas lease sale

FERC Slashes Five-Year Oil Pipeline Index Level for Oil Pipeline Rates

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Jan. 20 issued a decision lowering its oil pipeline price index, returning to its prior policy of calculating the level using the middle 50 percent of pipeline cost changes. The decision revises a December 2020 order, which based the calculation on the middle 80 percent of pipeline cost changes…...

U.S. Energy Department Announces Crude Oil Purchase to Test Market

U.S. Releases 400,000 Barrels of Crude Oil From Strategic Petroleum Reserve to TotalEnergies

The U.S. Energy Department on Jan. 18 approved an exchange of 400,000 barrels of crude oil for release to TotalEnergies’ subsidiary Atlantic Trading and Marketing, the fifth in a series of loans from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve, or SPR. The exchange program is intended to increase short-term crude supplies in hopes of reducing retail…...

Crude Oil Price

Crude Oil Market Supply Tightness Supported Higher Oil Prices in 2021: EIA

Brent spot prices began at $50 per barrel in January 2021 and climbed to a high of $86 per barrel in October before falling in the final weeks of the year, according to a Jan. 4 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) on crude oil prices recovery last year. The agency highlighted that…...

Colorado Passes Bill Aiming for 90 Percent Emissions Reduction by 2050

U.S. Energy Department Announces $35 Million for Methane Reduction Technologies

The U.S. Energy Department on Dec. 2 announced $35 million in funding for technologies that aim to reduce methane emissions in the coal, oil, and natural gas sectors. The department selected 12 projects for the grants under a new program called “Reducing Emissions of Methane Every Day of the Year,” or REMEDY, a three-year research…...

U.S. Transportation Department Declares Regional Emergency as Cyberattack Shuts Down Major Fuel Pipeline

U.S. Transportation Department Declares Regional Emergency as Cyberattack Shuts Down Major Fuel Pipeline

The U.S. Transportation Department’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on May 9 declared a regional emergency in 17 states and the District of Columbia in response to the unexpected shutdown of the Colonial pipeline system, which transports about 45 percent of fuel consumed on the East Coast. On May 7, the pipeline operator said that…...

State Policy Playbook: Washington Expedites Measures to Fulfill Clean Energy Policy Agenda

State Policy Playbook: Washington Expedites Measures to Fulfill Clean Energy Policy Agenda

Washington is moving expeditiously to implement rules and strategies as the state seeks to achieve carbon-free electricity by 2045 and reduce emissions to net zero by 2050. The state is advancing multiple measures ranging from resource planning rules to establishing a carbon cap-and-trade program, and strengthening auto-emission standards.

U.S. EPA Reverses Finding That Formed Basis for Obama-Era Power Plant Mercury Rules

Washington Lawmakers Pass Bill to Establish Cap-and-Trade Program

The Washington legislature on April 24 passed legislation aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by implementing an economy-wide cap-and-invest system. Upon enactment, Washington will become the second state – next to California – to have a comprehensive carbon-pricing program. The state would auction carbon allowances starting in 2023, aligned with the 2030, 2040, and 2050…...

Visual Primer: Texas and California Blackouts - Comparison of Regulatory and Legislative Responses

Visual Primer: Texas and California Blackouts – Comparison of Regulatory and Legislative Responses

Texas state lawmakers are exploring solutions to address the issues faced during and after the mid-February winter storm event that caused widespread outages across the state. California, which faced a similar predicament due to an unprecedented heatwave in August 2020, albeit smaller in scale and severity, has advanced measures to ensure reliability this summer.