Politics & Opinions

Trump Achieves 1,237 Delegate Count Thursday

From ABC News

Donald Trump reached the number of delegates needed to clinch the Republican nomination for president Thursday, completing an unlikely rise that has upended the political landscape and set the stage for a bitter fall campaign.

Trump was …

May 26, 2016 - 12:36 pm Closing Bell Story‎, Politics & Opinions
Energy Upside: Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Wins Energy Board Nod

Energy Upside: Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Wins Energy Board Nod

Project Wins National Energy Board’s Approval Recommendation, Government’s Final Decision Set for December

Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB) has concluded that Kinder Morgan’s (ticker: KMI) Trans Mountain Expansion Project is in the public interest and recommended the Federal Governor in …

Bill Permitting 9/11 Victims to Sue Saudi Arabia Passes Senate, Heads to House

From The Hill

The upper chamber approved the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act by unanimous consent.

“This bill is very near and dear to my heart as a New Yorker because it would allow the victims of 9/11 to …

May 17, 2016 - 12:51 pm Closing Bell Story‎, OPEC, Politics & Opinions
Switch to NatGas Delivers Lowest CO2 Emissions from Electricity Generation Since 1993

Switch to NatGas Delivers Lowest CO2 Emissions from Electricity Generation Since 1993

Natural Gas: the environmental movement’s strongest asset

Double benefits of gas-fired power plants: NatGas emits less carbon dioxide per unit of electricity generation and consumes less fuel per unit of generation

It shouldn’t be very long before the environmental movement …

How Easy is it to Do Business in Your Country?

How Easy is it to Do Business in Your Country?

World Bank Ranks State of Health of World’s Economies 

The World Bank Group published one of its flagship annual reports this week: “Doing Business 2016: Measuring Regulatory Quality and Efficiency.” The report ranks and compares business regulation in …

Clinton’s ‘We’re Going to Put Coal Companies and Miners out of Work’ Comment Not Winning Over Voters in West Virginia

Clinton’s ‘We’re Going to Put Coal Companies and Miners out of Work’ Comment Not Winning Over Voters in West Virginia

When politicians get called out by a flesh-and-blood voter for something damaging they said, something that was broadcast on CNN and archived on Youtube, their sudden backtracking, denials and squirming are revealing.

Clinton told a CNN panel in March: “We’re …

Hatch, Barrasso and Enzi Introduce Senate Bill to Stop Frac Regulation Duplicity

Energy Wins: Ted Cruz Picks Carly Fiorina as VP Running Mate

Both support fracing, expansion of drilling on federal lands, ending federal government over-regulation

It was announced by the Cruz campaign today. If the combination of Texas Senator Ted Cruz with former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina as his VP …

Super PAC Announces 7-Figure Media Campaign for Senators Portman and Ayotte Energy Policies

WASHINGTON, April 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Conservative philanthropist Jay Faison today announced that his Super PAC, ClearPath Action Fund, is endorsing U.S. Senate candidates Rob Portman (R-OH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and will launch a seven-figure paid media campaign

April 27, 2016 - 2:16 pm Closing Bell Story‎, Energy News, Politics & Opinions

Cruz Supports Natural Gas Fracking, Calls for End of ‘War on Coal’

From Penn Live

WILLIAMSPORT — If Ted Cruz is elected president, he said, the federal government will not regulate fracking and the war on coal will end.

Those were two of the promises made by the Texas senator who is …

April 22, 2016 - 11:50 am Closing Bell Story‎, Energy News, Politics & Opinions
Source: theiet.org

Kerry Says Money from Iranian Sanctions Relief Could End Up with Terrorist Groups

While funds do not appear to be going to terrorist now, Kerry “think[s] some of it will”

Secretary of State John Kerry acknowledged that some of the money Iran received as part of sanctions relief could go to groups considered …

Synergy Resources CEO Lynn Peterson: an Exclusive Interview with Oil & Gas 360®

Synergy Resources CEO Lynn Peterson: an Exclusive Interview with Oil & Gas 360®

A new chief executive lands in the Wattenberg: the former Kodiak CEO talks about a new company culture, acquisition strategy and his go-forward road map for the ‘core Wattenberg’

Life before Synergy 

Lynn Peterson was an independent oilman from 1986 …

Clean Power Plan Lawsuit Update: U.S. Chamber, 27 States, 150 Organizations File Opening Brief Against EPA Power Plant Rule

Clean Power Plan Lawsuit Update: U.S. Chamber, 27 States, 150 Organizations File Opening Brief Against EPA Power Plant Rule

Clean Power Plan Lawsuit Begins

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today, along with a coalition including officials from 27 states and more than 150 other organizations representing a wide range of the American economy, presented opening arguments in the D.C. …

The Clean Power Plan has a New Chance at Life

The Clean Power Plan has a New Chance at Life

The death of Associate Justice Antonin Scalia complicates matters around the Clean Power Plan

The passing of Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia last weekend leaves open a seat on the country’s highest court, and it leaves open the door …

Anti Fracing Group Removes Outright Frac Ban Attempt from Colorado Ballot

Anti Fracing Group Removes Outright Frac Ban Attempt from Colorado Ballot

Ten anti fracing ballot propositions remain; group hopes one or two make the Nov. ballot

Coloradans Resisting Extreme Energy Development (CREED) has removed one of its eleven anti fracing measures from the 2016 ballot. The measure removed by the group …

Energy Producers – Don’t Ever Underestimate the Environmental Activists

Energy Producers – Don’t Ever Underestimate the Environmental Activists

The warning for energy producers in Colorado came from Christopher Guith, senior vice president for policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy.

Guith’s warning was delivered during a panel discussion with a group of …

Hatch, Barrasso and Enzi Introduce Senate Bill to Stop Frac Regulation Duplicity

CPP: Motion to Stay EPA Clean Power Plan Denied by D.C. Court

A coalition of 27 states and industry groups had hoped to stop the EPA’s Clean Power Plan from taking action by filing a motion to stay in the District of Columbia circuit court. Today, the court announced that it has

January 21, 2016 - 6:38 pm Closing Bell Story‎, Politics & Opinions, Regulatory
Coal 2016: Knock, Knock, Knocking on Heaven’s Door

Coal 2016: Knock, Knock, Knocking on Heaven’s Door

First a warning, then executive actions through the EPA, now a halt to coal mining leases on federal land

Government policy can be used as a powerful industry killer. Ask the coal miners in Appalachia.

In a 2008 speech candidate

Presidential Candidates on Energy: Paul

Presidential Candidates on Energy: Paul

rand-paulWashington’s long-tenured bloodlines are apparent in the ongoing presidential race, as Bushes, Clintons and other familiar faces are once again heading into primary season.

U.S. Senator Rand Paul’s name carries precedence on the footsteps of his father, Ron – an …

Alaska Looks to Plug the Fiscal Dam as Oil Prices Remain Low

Alaska Looks to Plug the Fiscal Dam as Oil Prices Remain Low

“This is a major paradigm shift in how the State of Alaska conducts business” – Governor Walker

Lower commodity prices have taken a major toll on states like Alaska that depend in large part on the revenue from selling oil …

We’re Still Importing Crude Oil from OPEC.  Why?

We’re Still Importing Crude Oil from OPEC. Why?

An end of the year reflection on oil prices, global demand and OPEC by Greg Barnett

It’s Thursday morning, December 31, 2015.

I’m not going to sugar coat it – it’s been a tough year.  There have been family deaths, …

Colorado Oil Patch: Trouble is Brewing

Colorado Oil Patch: Trouble is Brewing

New Anti-Energy Development Initiatives Registered with Secretary of State

Eleven initiatives aimed at Colorado’s oil and gas development were issued on December 22, 2015, marking the start of a new chapter in the Centennial state’s ongoing tug of war between …

Coal Under Fire: Clean Power Plan Begins

Coal Under Fire: Clean Power Plan Begins

27 States are Suing to Stop the CPP, Where do Things Stand?

On August 3, 2015, President Obama and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the Clean Power Plan, which is described on the EPA website as “a historic and …

End of U.S. Crude Oil Export Ban Heads to Obama’s Desk in Congress-Approved Spending Package

Story by LA Times

Congress gave final approval Friday to one of the most ambitious legislative packages in years, including a $1.1-trillion funding bill, nearly $650 billion in tax breaks and dozens of other policy initiatives. The measure now goes

December 18, 2015 - 2:46 pm Closing Bell Story‎, Energy News, Politics & Opinions
Congress has a Question for the Department of Interior: Why Are You Postponing Oil and Gas Lease Sales?

Congress has a Question for the Department of Interior: Why Are You Postponing Oil and Gas Lease Sales?

Representatives from 11 states want U.S. Interior Department to explain why number of new federal leases issued has fallen by 57% in the past 8 years

On Dec. 16, 15 U.S. congressmen delivered a letter to Janice Schneider, Assistant Secretary …

Hatch, Barrasso and Enzi Introduce Senate Bill to Stop Frac Regulation Duplicity

Crude Oil Export Ban Expected to be Lifted as Part of $1.15 Trillion Spending Bill

4 decades later, the U.S. prepares to lift crude oil export ban

The United States Senate has passed a $1.15 trillion omnibus spending bill to keep the U.S. government up and running today. Included in the bill are several provisions …

Coming this Week: Ending the 40-Year Oil Export Ban and 9 Years of Zero Interest… Maybe

Coming this Week: Ending the 40-Year Oil Export Ban and 9 Years of Zero Interest… Maybe

Congress expected to vote to lift crude oil export ban; economists worry about low inflation

An end to the more than 40-year old crude oil export ban could soon be approaching. Members of Senate this week are expected to include …

Some Colorado Lawmakers Express Support of 2016 Agenda that would Advance Local Control Laws

From the Longmont Times-Call

Oil, gas issues expected to return in 2016 Colorado Legislature

The issue of giving cities and counties more authority to locally regulate oil and gas drilling and production may resurface in next year’s session of the

December 14, 2015 - 11:33 am Closing Bell Story‎, Fracing, Politics & Opinions, Regulatory
Average Monthly WTI Price is the Lowest Since June 2004

Average Monthly WTI Price is the Lowest Since June 2004

“Production from the North Slope of Alaska and the North Sea of Europe, burgeoning oil regions 20 years ago, is in decline. Unrest in Venezuela and Nigeria threatens the flow of oil. The Middle East remains the mother lode of …

Source: Gazprom. LNG Tanker

Shipping LNG on U.S.-Built Ships a Double-Edged Sword: 100 New LNG Carriers Required

Study looks at effects of shipping U.S. LNG using U.S.-built ships

Cheniere Energy (ticker: LNG) is expected to begin shipping 3.5 Bcf/d of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from its Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana early next year, with an additional …

How’s it Going at COP21?

How’s it Going at COP21?

Canada shocks COP21 silly

Canada surprised attendees and negotiators at the climate talks in Paris on Sunday by calling for a more ambitious target for cutting greenhouse gases than the UN’s own 2-degree target, the National Observer reported.

“Canada’s Environment …