Newsbrief archive for July 07, 2010

News from around the West

EPA finishing up Pavillion-area monitoring wells

published in: Associated Press on: 07/07/2010 by: Mead Gruver
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has almost finished drilling two monitoring wells to test for pollution in a central Wyoming community where residents suspect chemicals related to gas drilling have contaminated their well water.

PNM fined record $371,000 for gas leak

published in: New Mexico Independent on: 07/07/2010 by: Bryant Furlow
The state Public Regulation Commission (PRC) Tuesday voted unanimously to fine the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) $371,000 for a 2008 incident in which the company failed for two months in 2008 to repair a potentially explosive gas leak in Albuquerque...

North Dakota counties share $4M in oil tax grants

published in: Associated Press on: 07/06/2010 by: James MacPherson
Jeff Engleson, the sole person responsible for North Dakota's oil tax grants, said he logged nearly 5,000 miles in five weeks this spring driving rural roads to decide how he'd distribute the money.

Western Election News

Cohen: Is Bennet dumbing down?

published in: Denver Post/Washington Post on: 07/07/2010 by: Richard Cohen
For a time earlier this year, I thought Sen. Michael Bennet had to be the biggest jerk in Washington. I had been spending some time in Colorado, daily ingesting Bennet's campaign commercials in which he presented himself as an anti-Washington provincial.

Editorial: Ballot item could cripple Colorado

published in: Denver Post on: 07/07/2010 by: Editorial Staff
Beware, Colorado: A trio of Trojan horses waits at the gate.  Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101 may appear to be simple tax-cutting measures that will appeal to voters tired of big-government spending, but don't be fooled.

Senate candidate Norton a stickler for conservative details

published in: Denver Post on: 07/07/2010 by: Allison Sherry
Running the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment was an opportunity for Jane Norton.

Washington Watch

Video: Deloitte's Stanislaw says 'green' focus has distorted energy debate

published in: E&E TV on: 07/07/2010 by: Monica Trauzzi
As Senate leadership decides how to move forward on climate and energy, how can the United States remain competitive in the international energy marketplace?

US Rep Waxman Opposes Proposed TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline

published in: NASDAQ/Dow Jones Newswires on: 07/07/2010 by: Edward Welsch
Plans to expand the flow of crude into the U.S. from Canada's oil sands faced mounting political pressure Tuesday as the chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives energy committee, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), said he's opposed to the expansion of TransCanada's Corp.'s ( TRP, TRP.T)

EPA Unveils Rules on Smog-Forming Emissions From Power Plants

published in: New York Times/E&E News on: 07/07/2010 by: Gabriel Nelson
U.S. EPA released proposed rules today for smog and soot-forming emissions from power plants, setting up the start of a rulemaking process that could influence Senate negotiations on an energy and climate bill.

EPA pushes air pollution regulations

published in: Politico on: 07/06/2010 by: Darren Samuelsohn
The Environmental Protection Agency unveiled proposed air pollution regulations Tuesday aimed at curbing harmful power plant pollution in 31 states, mostly east of the Mississippi River.

Chambliss’ energy bill pushes natural gas, nuclear power

published in: Ledger-Enquirer on: 07/06/2010 by: Halimah Abdullah
Republican Sens. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia and Richard Burr of North Carolina have introduced energy legislation focused on expanding the nation’s use of natural gas and nuclear power.

Revived Push for Drilling Ban(subscription required)

published in: Wall Street Journal on: 07/06/2010 by: Stephen Power and Ann Zimmerman
The Obama administration asked a federal appeals court Tuesday to reinstate a moratorium on deepwater petroleum drilling, saying it is needed to reduce the chance of a second spill similar to the one now spewing crude into the Gulf of Mexico.

Environment & Wildlife

Groups say Exxon violates US air laws

published in: Associated Press on: 07/07/2010 by: Ramit Plushnick-Masti
The largest U.S. oil refinery violated federal air pollution laws thousands of times during the last five years, releasing 10 million pounds of illegal pollution, including cancer-causing toxins, without facing proper fines or being forced to fix equipment, environmental groups claim.

Technology, Alternative & Renewables

Will Natural Gas Hurt Renewables?

published in: Green Tech Media on: 07/07/2010 by: Meghan Moreland
Over 700 leaders in renewable energy convened in New York City June 29-30 to talk finance at the seventh annual REFF-Wall Street conference.

Industry News

Delta Petroleum Names CEO; President Resigns(subscription required)

published in: Wall Street Journal on: 07/07/2010 by: Tess Stynes
Delta Petroleum Corp. promoted Carl Lakey to chief executive of the small oil and gas explorer. The company also announced the resignation of its president and terminated its effort to sell a 37.5% stake in the heavily indebted company to Opon International LLC.

Smaller Oil Firms Fear Regulation Backlash In Gulf

published in: NPR on: 07/07/2010 by: John Burnett
The Gulf of Mexico is one of the world's major oil and gas provinces. The offshore industry was born here in 1947. It's close to the petro-capital of Houston. And, of course, it's in the backyard of the world's oil glutton.

Texas group will look at oil, natural gas drilling

published in: Associated Press on: 07/06/2010 by: Juan A. Lozano
A new group will pool Texas' brightest minds to come up with better and safer ways of drilling and producing oil and natural gas in the wake of the Gulf oil spill, Gov. Rick Perry announced Tuesday.

Bear Tracker Energy to get $200M

published in: Denver Business Journal on: 07/06/2010 by: Staff
Startup Bear Tracker Energy LLC said Tuesday it’s received a $200 million equity commitment, in part from a division of The Blackstone Group LP.