OAG360: Are there any models for tax reform that you would like to see implemented here in the United States? Buck: Yeah. The chainsaw in my garage is what I think would work best. U.S. Congressman Ken Buck’s congressional district sits on top of 85% of Colorado’s oil production—70.1 million barrels in 2014. He is a federal lawmaker with a
Carbon emissions from the power sector at lowest level since 1988 The electric power sector emitted 128 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (MMmt CO2) in April 2015, according to information from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). This level of emissions is the lowest for any month since April 1988. In any year, April is typically the month with the
Latest version of the bill offers greater flexibility with higher standards The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final version of the Clean Power Plan (CPP) today, with several changes made from the last version. The final version of the CPP targets carbon emission levels 32% below those in 2005, 2% lower than the last version of the bill, according
Refiners say making them the obligated party for fuel blending is “misguided” Independent refiners are asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to shift responsibility for complying with biofuel programs from refiners to fuel blenders. Delta Airlines’ (ticker: DAL) Monroe Energy LLC, Carlyle Group’s (ticker: CG) Philadelphia Energy Solutions, Valero Energy Corp (ticker: VLO) and Ronald E Minsk, who recently served
The Supreme Court decides the $4-$6 million in benefits do not outweigh the $9.6 billion annual costs of new regulations The Supreme Court decided today in a 5-to-4 decision that the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed regulations regarding limits on the emission of mercury and other toxic pollutants from coal-fired power plants would place a financial burden on companies that
A new National Association of Manufacturers study shows EPA regulations could be the costliest ever The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed changes to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) that would further reduce the amount of nitrogen oxides in the air throughout the U.S. According to the EPA, the estimated benefits of meeting the costs could be as much
The EPA hopes to make nearly 10% of all transportation fuels renewables by 2016 The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recently released its annual Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program with goals for renewable fuels that apply to all gasoline and diesel produced or imported in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The EPA decided to lower the goals from those set earlier by
Between 100,000 and 120,000 wells were drilled and fraced from 2011 to 2014, but few led to issues with drinking water A draft assessment released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today claims that “hydraulic fracturing activities have not led to widespread, systemic impacts to drinking water resources,” according to an EPA press release. The assessment compiles date from 950
Could a drop in natural gas prices spur additional market share growth? As we swing into spring earnings season, Q1 earnings are coming fast, along with questions surrounding the state of natural gas and oil prices. In a non-oil and gas realm, Arch Coal Inc. (ticker: ACI) released Q1 results this week. The coal giant reported a net loss of $113
Harvard professor: Clean Power Plan is unconstitutional The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) intent to use the Clean Power Plan to regulate carbon dioxide emissions is unconstitutional, says Laurence Tribe, professor of constitutional law at Harvard University. Tribe recently filed comments with the EPA saying that the Clean Power Plan is “a remarkable example of executive overreach and an administrative agency’s
The Committee on Energy and Commerce calls the EPA’s 2016 budget “more than enough” On February 25, the Subcommittees on Energy and Power and Environment and the Economy held a hearing on President Obama’s 2016 budget request for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA requested a total budget of $8.6 billion for fiscal year 2016, $452 million more than
White House looks to EPA to enforce new regulations and avoid Congress The White House announced yesterday that it will be releasing new regulations to curb the amount of methane generated by drilling operations throughout the United States. How the regulations will affect the oil and gas industry and how greatly they will reduce greenhouse gasses will not be finalized
