Newsbrief archive for July 08, 2010

Featured Article

Poll shows solid opposition to 'new energy taxes'(subscription required)

published in: E&E News on: 07/07/2010 by: Alex Kaplun
Voters are overwhelmingly opposed to any policy they perceive as increasing taxes on energy and have little interest in seeing climate legislation become a reality, according to a poll released today by a conservative-leaning think tank.

News from around the West

State: Let's make a deal

published in: Associated Press on: 07/07/2010 by: Mead Gruver
For Sale: Two square miles of Grand Teton National Park.  Majestic views of the Teton Range. Prime location for luxury resort, home development.

Monitoring wells nearing completion

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.

Western Election News

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper against rewrite of gas rules

published in: Durango Herald on: 07/08/2010 by: Joe Hanel
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper sought to ease the fears of environmentalists Wednesday, telling gas and oil executives that if he is elected governor, he would not roll back rules for their industry that Gov. Bill Ritter initiated.

Hickenlooper's comments muddy stance on Colorado's oil, gas regulations

published in: Denver Post on: 07/08/2010 by: Karen E. Crummy
Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis went after Democratic opponent John Hickenlooper on Wednesday, saying the Denver mayor's position on the state's oil and gas regulations has "flip-flopped" in recent days.

Gubernatorial candidates discuss the future of energy in Colorado

published in: 9 News on: 07/07/2010 by: Jeffrey Wolf and Adam Schrager
Colorado's  three major-party candidates for governor insist the state's economic recovery needs to include its oil and natural gas industries.

Washington Watch

Udall seeks Salazar probe into abandoned Gulf wells

published in: The Hill on: 07/07/2010 by: Darren Goode
A Democratic senator wants Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to investigate whether abandoned offshore oil and gas wells in the Gulf of Mexico pose any dangers.

Energy Department Lags in Saving Energy

published in: New York Times on: 07/07/2010 by: Matthew L. Wald
Like flossing or losing weight, saving energy is easier to promise than to actually do — even if you are the Department of Energy.

CBO: Kerry-Lieberman bill trims deficit by $19B over 10 years

published in: The Hill on: 07/07/2010 by: Michael O'Brien
An energy and climate bill co-sponsored by Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) would reduce the deficit by $19 billion during the next decade, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) found Wednesday.

Environment & Wildlife

ND will not have sage grouse season in fall

published in: In Forum on: 07/07/2010 by: Doug Leier
While it won’t become official until the annual small game hunting proclamation is finalized later this month, it’s a certainty that North Dakota will not have a sage grouse season again this fall.

'Climategate' inquiry mostly vindicates scientists

published in: Associated Press on: 07/07/2010 by: Raphael G. Satter
An independent report into the leak of hundreds of e-mails from one of the world's leading climate research centers on Wednesday largely vindicated the scientists involved, saying they acted honestly and that their research was reliable.

CO2 Emissions to Rise 3.2% This Year, EIA Projects

published in: Bloomberg/Businessweek on: 07/07/2010 by: Simon Lomax
U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from energy use will climb 3.2 percent this year on economic growth and higher use of fossil fuels to generate electricity, the Energy Information Administration forecast today.

Western initiative's emission system will help state economies -- report(subscription required)

published in: E&E News on: 07/07/2010 by: Debra Kahn
The Western Climate Initiative regional cap-and-trade system will benefit its member states' economies, if only slightly, according to an analysis  released today.

Technology, Alternative & Renewables

Two Colorado companies receive $14 million in grants

published in: Denver Post on: 07/08/2010 by: Mark Jaffe
Littleton-based ADA-ES and ION Engineering in Boulder on Wednesday received $14 million in federal grants for advanced technologies to capture carbon dioxide before it goes up the stacks of coal-burning power plants.

Propane gets 'autogas' makeover as industry tries to go from home to highway(subscription required)

published in: E&E News on: 07/07/2010 by: Jason Plautz
When most Americans hear propane, they think of starting a grill, not a car. Autogas for America hopes to change that.

Vestas to build R&D facility in Louisville

published in: Denver Business Journal on: 07/07/2010 by: Staff
Vestas Wind Systems A/S, the Danish wind turbine manufacturer, announced Wednesday it’s creating a new research-and-development facility in Louisville that will employ up to 240 people in the next three years.

Markets

U.S. Raises Natural Gas Production, Price Forecasts

published in: Bloomberg/Businessweek on: 07/07/2010 by: Moming Zhou
The U.S. raised its forecast for natural gas production this year and said the threat of hurricanes would boost prices.

Moratorium to cut U.S. oil output 82,000 bpd-EIA

published in: Reuters on: 07/07/2010 by: Timothy Gardner
The U.S. offshore oil drilling ban will reduce crude output by an average of 82,000 barrels per day next year, more than previously estimated, the government's top energy forecaster said on Wednesday.

US energy intensity expected to decline

published in: E&P Magazine on: 07/07/2010 by: Ashley E. Organ
Economic downturn continued to impact the US in 2009. Last year marked the first time in 60 years that electricity use fell for two consecutive years.

Crude oil extends losing streak

published in: Oil & Gas Journal on: 07/07/2010 by: Sam Fletcher
The front-month crude oil contract continued its decline July 6 for the seventh consecutive session in the New York market after reversing earlier gains of the day amid continued worries about the US economic recovery.

Study says displacement of coal would strain US gas supply

published in: Oil & Gas Journal on: 07/07/2010 by: Staff
A push in the US to cut emissions of carbon dioxide by 20% would strain domestic supplies of natural gas and require new supply of energy from nuclear and renewable sources for power generation.

Industry News

BP Aims to Fix Leaking Oil Well by July 27: Report

published in: Reuters on: 07/08/2010 by: Staff
Besieged energy giant BP aims to fix its leaking Gulf oil well by July 27, ahead of its earlier target of mid-August, to show investors it has limited its burgeoning oil spill liabilities, the Wall Street Journal said, citing company officials.