Bad Bill of the Week: It’s good to know that Alaskans can count on Senator Scott Kawasaki to be consistent in his behavior – introducing legislation that wastes time and resources. He perfected the practice while in the house. SB 28 – “An Act renaming the state bird as the Common Raven.” is Headlamp’s choice for this week’s bad bill. Two committee referrals – state affairs and resources.
‘Under siege’, oil industry mulls raising returns and PR game
Dmitry Zhdannikov, January 24, 2019
When the global oil industry held its biggest annual gathering this week in the Swiss town of Davos, it invited banking bosses and fund managers to discuss two key topics – climate change and pressure from investors. The conclusion of the discussions was worrying for those present – pressure is rising and the industry is losing a battle not to be seen as one of the world’s biggest evils. The answer? Lure investors with higher returns and raise the PR game. “There is no doubt – and there is a consensus coming here in various meetings in Davos – that our industry is literally under siege and the future of oil is at stake,” said Mohammed Barkindo, secretary-general of oil producer group OPEC.
Our Take: Headlamp agrees. The industry has a fantastic story to tell – raising the standard of living for people worldwide and leading the charge in reducing emissions globally with new technology.
Related:
Guest Opinion: Natural gas can help us make environmental gains
Trump Eyes Action to Limit States’ Powers to Block Pipelines
Ari Natter & Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Bloomberg, January 25, 2019
The Trump administration is considering taking steps to limit the ability of states to block interstate gas pipelines and other energy projects, according to three people familiar with the deliberations. The effort, possibly done through an executive order, is aimed chiefly at states in the Northeast U.S., where opposition to pipeline projects has helped prevent abundant shale gas in Pennsylvania and Ohio from reaching consumers in New York and other cities. New York used a Clean Water Act provision to effectively block the construction of a natural gas pipeline being developed by Williams Partners LP to carry Marcellus shale gas 124 miles (200 km) to New England. The project got the green light from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission but ran into obstacles in New York, where regulators denied a water quality permit.
EIA Sees Continued US Energy Growth
Natural Gas News, January 24, 2019
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA), in its Annual Energy Outlook 2019 released January 24, is projecting robust energy growth in the US, led by shale and tight oil and natural gas and renewables. In its Reference case (there are also six side cases which examine the robustness of certain assumptions), the EIA projects the US will be a net energy exporter in 2020 – for the first time in more than 70 years – and will remain so through 2050. The export growth is driven largely by crude oil and products, but also reflects additional exports of LNG. “The US has become the largest producer of crude oil in the world, and growth in domestic oil, natural gas, and renewable energy production is quickly establishing the US as a strong global energy producer for the foreseeable future” EIA administrator Linda Capuano said. “For example, the US produced almost 11mn b/d of crude oil in 2018, exceeding our previous 1970 record of 9.6mn b/d.”
From the Washington Examiner, Daily on Energy:
REPUBLICANS SCHEDULE CONFIRMATION VOTE FOR EPA’S WHEELER: Republicans of the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee announced Thursday the panel will vote Feb. 5 on EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler’s nomination to stay on leading the agency.
The announcement came after Senate Majority Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., met with Wheeler.
“He is an impressive, experienced nominee and I look forward to supporting his nomination,” McConnell said in a Twitter post.
Wheeler, a former energy lobbyist and Senate Republican staffer, has led the EPA since July after former Administrator Scott Pruitt resigned from the post amid numerous scandals over his misuse of federal funds.
