The solar industry boasted huge job growth last year, mostly due to the increase in solar installations on homes and businesses. Rooftop solar is growing across the U.S., and so are confrontations between traditional utility providers and the solar industry. The controversy centers on net metering (the technical term that describes how large utility companies … Continue reading
With much of the current energy conversation surrounding the Keystone XL Pipeline, many Americans have forgotten, or may not even know, about another energy issue that might just be more important: the crude oil export ban. Since the 1970’s, the U.S. government has prohibited U.S. oil producers to export crude oil internationally in order to … Continue reading
A year ago, after the overthrow of Ukraine’s president and the ensuing crisis, industry leaders in the U.S. pushed to change regulations that prevent liquid natural gas (LNG) exports. If Ukraine had truly wanted to break free from Russian influence, it would have had to eliminate its dependence on Russian gas. However, during that critical … Continue reading
It must be frustrating for President Obama when his policies make no one happy. Recently the administration announced plans to regulate methane emissions, and while the oil and gas industry grumbled about new regulations and added costs, environmental groups complained the new measures don’t go far enough. Is it possible for policymakers to appease environmental … Continue reading
OPEC’s refusal to cut crude oil production is like a declaration of war on the United States’ energy industry. Amidst falling oil prices, policymakers have largely stayed out of the fray, leaving U.S. shale oil producers locked in a price war while the public enjoys lower gas prices. However, with the price of oil hovering … Continue reading
When I recently visited Professor Robert Weiner at the George Washington University (GW), he was unimpressed by the flurry of speculation about Saudi Arabia’s response to falling global oil prices. Dr. Weiner, the chair of the International Business Department at GW’s School of Business, pointed out that Saudi Arabia doesn’t mind the lower oil prices and … Continue reading
The U.S. Energy Information Agency’s Winter Fuels Outlook was released in early October, heralding good news about lower household energy bills this winter. The report forecasts price and supply information for consumers regarding common heating fuels: natural gas, electricity, heating oil and propane. Temperatures are predicted to be warmer and the EIA has an action … Continue reading
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted on the bill that will approve the Keystone XL pipeline this past Wednesday, June 18th, 2014. The bill was approved in the panel, but it is unclear whether or not it will pass in the entire Senate. The Keystone Pipeline bill is a proposed bill that would … Continue reading
Shale gas discoveries has proliferated in the United States as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, a relatively new technology, has allowed an efficient way to extract shale gas, producing a cheaper and cleaner source of energy than coal. The shale gas boom happening in the United States which has resulted in an economy-boosting decrease in gas prices … Continue reading
The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions recently released a new report detailing how to incorporate natural gas into an emissions- and carbon-free future, with recommendations for use by sector. They launched their report with a meeting featuring a “CEO-level” discussion and a “sector-level” discussion. The two panels followed the format of the report. … Continue reading
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