Energy

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad supports the Keystone XL Pipeline, as do most Republican leaders. Then again, it doesn't go through his state. Not so for the newly proposed Bakken Pipeline that cuts across the heart of Iowa. No word on his position yet.

July 16, 2014 - The Des Moines Register

After a two day hearing late last week, the Richmond Planning Commission approved a contentious $1 billion plan to expand a Chevron refinery located in the city. The plan still requires city council approval.

July 14, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

Joe Eaton reports from Bainville, Montana, which is suffering the effects of the Bakken oil boom, although the majority of the Bakken wells, and its corresponding tax revenue, are in North Dakota.

July 12, 2014 - National Geographic

Opposition is stirring in industry and within the California legislature over the inclusion of oil refineries* in the cap and trade program come Jan. 1. Warning of a new tax on gas, opponents hope to delay the requirement for transportation fuels.

July 10, 2014 - Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Bloomberg News shares news of a report showing that the surge in shale oil production has made the United States the top oil and natural gas liquids producer in the first quarter of 2014 and discusses its impact on domestic and global oil prices.

July 7, 2014 - Bloomberg News

July 6, 2014 marks the one-year anniversary of North America's most catastrophic energy calamity when a runaway oil unit train carrying Bakken crude exploded in this small Quebec town killing 47 people and incinerating ten blocks of its downtown.

July 6, 2014 - NPR

In a huge victory for fracking opponents and a major blow to the shale gas drilling industry, the New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest, ruled on June 30 that municipalities can use zoning laws to enact fracking bans or moratoria.

July 4, 2014 - USA Today

A key regulation in California's war on global warming emissions withstood a major court challenge by the energy industry—both oil and corn ethanol—when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear their challenge to an Appeals Court ruling on June 30.

July 2, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

Forbes has produced a list of 'The Big Cities Leading A U.S. Manufacturing Revival.'

July 1, 2014 - Forbes

After the Federal Railroad Administration issued an emergency order on May 7 that Bakken information about oil shipments be shared with appropriate state agencies, question arose about whether that information could be shared with the public.

July 1, 2014 - Sacramento Bee

Loveland became the first city in Colorado to reject a voter-imposed moratorium on gas and oil hydraulic fracturing. Voters in five cities have approved moratoriums since 2012 though they are being contested by energy companies and the state.

June 30, 2014 - The Coloradoan

The green, quieter model runs on lithium batteries and gets 100 miles per charge. The Milwaukee company hopes it will appeal to a younger, urban, environmentally-conscious demographic as it's main market has been "aging white male baby boomers."

June 26, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

A new study by the World Bank examines the benefits for policies addressing clean transportation, energy efficiency in industry, and energy efficiency in buildings in five countries and the European Union.

June 26, 2014 - The World Bank

An energy policy developed during the 1983 Arab oil embargo is loosening thanks to an order by the Commerce Department, though not as much as oil companies would like. Will gas prices rise? No, they will fall, argues energy expert Daniel Yergin.

June 25, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

Allegheny County officials have embarked on an experiment to allow companies to drill for oil and gas below one of the county's eight parks. Whether operations expand beyond the initial test site remains to be seen.

June 25, 2014 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

In a 5-4 decision on June 23, the Supreme Court ruled that EPA erred in the permitting processes for new carbon-cutting rules. However, most of the Clean Power Plant rule that reduces emissions 30 percent will not be affected.

June 23, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

A major challenge facing oil companies in the Uinta Basin is how to transport the crude to market. Alignments have been winnowed and the mode appears to be selected - rail. Total cost: $2 billion to extract $30 billion worth of oil and gas reserves.

June 18, 2014 - The Salt Lake Tribune

While regulated on the federal level, there is still much that can be done on a state level, including adding per-barrel fees to pay for cleanup plans. Plus, a new regulation took effect requiring railroads to notify states about Bakken crude trains.

June 10, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

Many of you attended CNU in Buffalo last week, but for those of you who couldn't make it, here's a quick collection of a few of the ideas shared.

June 9, 2014 - PlaceShakers

EPA's new Clean Power Plan Rule has taken on a political life of its own, with coal states adamantly opposed, helping those who allege that the administration is waging a "war on coal." We also look at the basis of the rule in the 1970 Clean Air Act.

June 7, 2014 - Politico Pro