Newsbrief archive for July 09, 2010

Featured Article

Fracking regs may boost costs by as much as $500,000/well: report

published in: Platts on: 07/08/2010 by: Samantha Santa Maria
While hydraulic fracturing is unlikely to be banned, US regulatory oversight -- be it at the federal or state level -- is likely to increase well costs by as much as $500,000 per well, although that price tag is not considered to be an "economic game changer," according to a report Thursday by consulting firms Tudor Pickering Holt and Reservoir Research Partners.

News from around the West

Natural-gas industry criticized for lack of successful lobbying

published in: Denver Post on: 07/09/2010 by: Drew Fitzgerald
Former U.S. Sen. Tim Wirth delivered a testy message to Colorado natural-gas leaders Thursday, telling them the industry has not done enough to promote itself to Congress and the public.

Colorado delays decision on drilling-waste change until EPA weighs in

published in: Denver Post on: 07/09/2010 by: Bruce Finley
Colorado oil- and gas-drilling regulators deferred a decision Thursday on whether to roll back a new waste-disposal rule, choosing to wait for federal guidance.

BLM names Pinedale Manager

published in: Kemmerer Gazette on: 07/09/2010 by: Staff
Shane DeForest, a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) field manager from Cedarville, Calif., has been named the new field manager for BLM's Pinedale Field Office in Wyoming.

SUWA lists its 10 most threatened places in Utah

published in: Deseret News on: 07/08/2010 by: Amy Joi O'Donoghue
Among all of Utah's scenic "treasures," 10 that are threatened by off-road vehicle use and oil and gas development were recognized by a local environmental group Thursday.

It’s Your Land: Utah Fights Back

published in: Fox News on: 07/08/2010 by: Eric Shawn
Mike Noel doffs his cowboy hat as he rounds up the wayward calves on his ranch just outside the Southern Utah town of Kanab.

Western Election News

Tancredo's remarks rain on Senate candidate Buck's party

published in: Denver Post on: 07/09/2010 by: Michael Booth
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ken Buck learned all over again Thursday why handing over the microphone to Tom Tancredo is often a perilous choice.

Washington Watch

Oil industry, green groups launch dueling ad campaigns

published in: New York Times/E&E News on: 07/09/2010 by: Anne C. Mulkern
A new ad war erupted today pitting groups that support climate legislation against the oil industry.

Court Rejects Moratorium on Drilling in the Gulf

published in: New York Times on: 07/08/2010 by: John M. Broder
A federal appeals court on Thursday turned down the Obama administration’s effort to enforce a six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

An Oil Pipeline From Canada? Some Say 'No Way'

published in: NPR on: 07/08/2010 by: Martin Kaste
Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, says the U.S. is in danger of becoming too dependent on foreign oil.

Who benefits from ethanol subsidies

published in: Dallas Morning News on: 07/08/2010 by: Dave Michaels
Well, of course, Iowa does. But so does Texas.  National Journal has an interesting piece on the ethanol tax credit, which is due to expire at the end of this year.

Media Watch

Udall and Bennet did the right thing

published in: Denver Post on: 07/09/2010 by: James Thurber
I read Vincent Carroll's piece on the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to regulate greenhouse gases with considerable dismay. It contains several misstatements concerning the effects of the Murkowski amendment and unfairly disparages Sens.

Editorial: Sunny outlook in solar investment

published in: Denver Post on: 07/09/2010 by: Editorial Staff
The Obama administration got it right when it recently backed a loan for Colorado's Abound Solar, a leader in advancing one of the most promising renewable energy sources.

Environment & Wildlife

Fracking Gets Cracking

published in: Forbes on: 07/09/2010 by: Ken Fisher
Despite its many critics, hydraulic fracturing will change the nature of energy production. Your investments in the energy sector should reflect that fact. Fracking, as it is called by insiders, means injecting fluid at very high pressure into a well used to produce oil, water or natural gas. The most important application is in natural gas production.

Western govs launch pilot projects to protect key corridors(subscription required)

published in: E&E Land Letter on: 07/08/2010 by: April Reese
As a host of threats ranging from energy development to climate change continue to transform wildlife habitat around the West, the region's governors are launching a group of pilot projects to identify and map key habitats and wildlife corridors to help ensure those areas remain intact.

No penalty yet for Utah oil spill

published in: UPI on: 07/08/2010 by: Staff
Environmental officials in Utah said they will review fines for Chevron after a violation notice is sent to the company for an oil spill in the Red Butte Creek.

Breathing the filth

published in: Los Angeles Times on: 07/08/2010 by: Gary Polakovic
What a relief it will be when the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico gets plugged, ending the colossal mess caused by gushing crude.  Or will it?

Technology, Alternative & Renewables

Sunny outlook in solar investment

published in: Denver Post on: 07/09/2010 by: Staff
The Obama administration got it right when it recently backed a loan for Colorado's Abound Solar, a leader in advancing one of the most promising renewable energy sources.

Utilities Face the Decision Point of Big Shifts -- to Gas, Renewables and Efficiency

published in: New York Times on: 07/09/2010 by: Joel Kirkland
With or without a climate bill, electric utilities are shifting their investments to efficiency measures that cut long-term costs and integrate more natural gas and renewable energy into their power supplies, according to a new report.

New wind turbines tested to decrease bird mortality

published in: Electric Light & Power/E&E Land Letter on: 07/08/2010 by: Scott Streater
The Fish and Wildlife Service this summer will begin testing an experimental wind power technology at three Alaskan wildlife refuges that, if successful, could eventually be used to help prevent the annual deaths of thousands of birds that collide with spinning wind turbine blades.

Markets

Natural gas reserves grew more than expected

published in: Bloomberg/Businessweek on: 07/08/2010 by: Staff
Government figures released Thursday show natural gas stockpiles grew last week more than analysts expected.

Nat gas prices decline after EIA report on stocks

published in: Market Watch on: 07/08/2010 by: Claudia Assis
Natural-gas futures declined Thursday after a government report showed a larger-than-expected increase in stockpiles.

Industry News

US gas industry should embrace new friends to fight coal: Wirth

published in: Platts on: 07/09/2010 by: Cheryl Buchta
The US natural gas industry should form new allies to step up the fight for its slice of the energy pie, former US Senator Tim Wirth said Thursday at  the Colorado Oil and Gas Association's Annual Rocky Mountain Energy Epicenter in Denver.

Natural-gas industry criticized for lack of successful lobbying

published in: Denver Post on: 07/09/2010 by: Drew FitzGerald
Former U.S. Sen. Tim Wirth delivered a testy message to Colorado natural-gas leaders Thursday, telling them the industry has not done enough to promote itself to Congress and the public.

Switch from coal to gas could cost $680B for infrastructure, utility group warns

published in: Electric Light & Power/E&E News on: 07/08/2010 by: Katherine Ling
Switching from coal to natural gas to reduce emissions from electricity generation will cost hundreds of billions of dollars for infrastructure improvements, the American Public Power Association said in a report released yesterday.

Costs to shift from coal to gas for generation are high: APPA

published in: Platts on: 07/08/2010 by: Jason Fordney
A shift from coal to natural gas for power generation would require a large investment in new infrastructure and includes other costs that make gas inadequate as a "bridge fuel," the American Public Power Association said Wednesday in a new report.