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…
On December 12, 2012, Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) introduced a bill that would amend the Natural Gas Act to place North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies on the same licensing system as free trade agreement (FTA) allies for liquefied natural gas (LNG) export. The bill is an outcome of Lugar’s new report, which highlights the…
The California Department of Water Resources (CDWR), the state’s largest power consumer, has decided to terminate its contract with a coal-fueled power plant in Nevada, with the contract set to expire in 2013. CDWR will switch to natural gas-fueled power, as part of its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The decision came as…
On December 5, 2012, the DOE released its much-awaited study by NERA Economic Consulting on the macroeconomic impacts of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from U.S. The study projects that U.S. will gain net economic benefits from LNG exports. The report demonstrates that the shale gas revolution can provide a much needed economic lift as lawmakers…
On December 3, 2012 Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced a draft Secretarial Order to harness the potash rich reserves of southeast New Mexico for oil and gas extraction alongside potash mining. The new plan intends to put an end to the prolonged legal dispute between the two industries over extraction rights by establishing “drilling islands” and…
Utica shale has seen two-fold rig count growth over the past year as drillers in the northern U.S. continue moving away from the Marcellus gas play and into the Utica oil play. Key Takeaways: Utica is becoming a preferential play for drillers because of its rich oil and natural gas liquid (NGL) content Oil-rich eastern Ohio prompts…
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to shale gas extraction are much lower than previously cited estimates and assumptions, according to a new report from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The study, released on November 26, 2012, shows that companies are using green completion technologies to capture most of the emissions rather than vent or flare…
