Coal plants are facing a series of EPA regulations that are requiring owners to invest in pollution controls or shutter aging plants. The new standards apply to about 1,400 coal and oil-fired generating units at 600 power plants, reports Bloomberg. Following an April decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to uphold the Environmental
The hydraulic fracturing dispute continues in one of the U.S. battleground states Colorado has played host to numerous standoffs involving hydraulic fracturing and its practices. Even though ballot initiatives were dropped in August, the debate of fracing continues on a smaller level in the many communities throughout the state. The political environment has begun to sway in favor of the
Reports this week indicated that Germany might be modifying its fracing laws to make it possible for companies to drill for shale gas. Many hoped that the German government might lift its ban on fracing at depths shallower than 3,000 meters (9,800ft). While the government has said that they plan to review the process closely, they will not ban the
Bills Would Change How the EPA Operates The U.S. House of Representatives today voted to pass H.R. 4795, the Promoting New Manufacturing Act, with a vote of 238-172. The bill is set to help cut red tape associated with building new factories that use natural gas by reducing permitting delays, ensuring the EPA provides timely guidance about how to comply
“President has the best interests of the EPA in mind” After mid-term elections that saw the Senate change hands from the Democrats to the Republicans and increased the GOP’s representation in the House, many in the GOP are saying the American people have spoken out loud and clear against President Obama’s political agenda, including initiatives about climate. Sen. James Inhofe
Earlier this year, the U.S. and the E.U. began a sanction regime against Russia in response to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. The sanctions are being used to target specific industries in the Russian economy, particularly oil and gas, the defense industry and the banking sector. Some companies, such as Russia’s oil company Rosneft (ticker: ROSN), have hired lobbyists to
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), speaking about the Keystone XL pipeline’s failure to pass the Senate by one vote last night, says a lawsuit in Nebraska is likely to blame. “We could have probably picked up a couple more [votes] had that process been completed,” Sen. Heitkamp said about the lawsuit to CNBC. “We know this is going to pass next
White House Statements “Factually Incorrect” UPDATE: Senate bill fails to pass by one vote, 59-41 TransCanada Corp.’s (ticker: TRP) president and CEO Russ Girling today provided a comment in advance of the debate and vote on U.S. Senate bill 2280: “I was very pleased to see another vote in the House of Representatives in favor of Keystone XL, a vote that
Bill will accelerate EPA approval, accountability The House of Representatives is set to vote this week on H.R. 4795, the Promoting New Manufacturing Act, authored by House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA). The legislation encourages building and industrial development in the U.S. by increasing transparency and reducing delays in the preconstruction permitting process, according to the Energy & Commerce Committee.
While TransCanada’s $8 billion project hangs in the balance, Canadian oil is already moving south The landslide Republican victory in this month’s midterm elections will prompt changes in the business of politics and in the U.S. economy, but will they include the Keystone XL pipeline? The House of Representatives approved the Keystone pipeline earlier today by a count of 252-161, with
During a two-day conference sponsored by the Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said it is time for the Fed to start focusing on globalization. Yellen said that the Fed’s ability to fulfill its mandates for full employment and price stability depends on understanding global markets and
Republican Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota is holding back his legislation to fast-track the Energy Department’s reviews of LNG exports for now, reports E&E News. Hoeven said he made this decision after talking to Department of Energy (DOE) head Ernest Moniz in order to garner more support for the bill before it goes to the Senate. The bill would
