At the 2013 MIT Energy Conference opening plenary panel, a group of energy industry experts explored opportunities of innovation in the present political and economic scenario. From the two oil price shocks in the 70s to increasingly frequent superstorms, the energy industry has shown a great capacity of innovation during periods of crises. In times of…
On March 2nd, at the 2013 MIT Energy Conference, experts gathered from academia, government, and the business community for a lively discussion about CHP. Below, we highlight key takeaways from both technology and regulatory perspectives. Combined heat and power (CHP) systems are 30% more efficient than conventional separate heat and power (SHP), thus representing major efficiency opportunities to commercial…
The U.S. State Department’s draft environmental assessment report finds that the development rate of Canadian oil sands and the extent of crude oil refining in the Gulf Coast region would not be affected by rejection of the Keystone XL project, while contribution to a substantive change in global greenhouse gas emissions from project implementation is unlikely….
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce released a new study challenging EPA’s optimistic projections regarding air regulations and job creation. The data revealed EPA’s flawed analysis methods and emphasized the need for regulatory reform, showing evidence of potential negative economic impacts from regulations. On February 27, 2013, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce released a study evaluating the employment impacts of EPA’s regulations….
The Energy Production and Project Delivery Act of 2013 aims at opening more federal acreage for energy development and expediting permitting processes for energy projects to create millions of jobs and add trillions of dollars to the economy. On February 27, 2013, Senator David Vitter (R-La.) and Congressman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) introduced the Energy Production…
A recent report from the Bipartisan Policy Center outlines common ground energy policy recommendations that build on energy abundance and efficiency accomplishments of the U.S. On February 27, 2013, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) released a report proposing a set of recommendations intended to serve as a blueprint for establishing strong and diverse energy resource portfolios….
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…
