Lawmakers introduce American Cybersecurity Literacy Act June 28, 2021 Bipartisan House lawmakers introduced legislation to increase cybersecurity literacy and security awareness among the American public amid a spike in cybersecurity threats against critical infrastructure. Read more
IOUs cut carbon emissions in 2020, though the footprint remains big for some
IOUs cut carbon emissions in 2020, though the footprint remains big for some Energize Weekly, June 30, 2021 Coal-fired generation and carbon emissions are down among the largest investor-owned utilities, but even with sharp drops in emissions, the carbon footprint for some companies remains large, according to survey data from…
State, Local Governments Highlight Cybersecurity Funding Needs
State, Local Governments Highlight Cybersecurity Funding Needs June 18, 2021 State, local and county governments officials testified that they need continually renewed, flexible funding to fend off increasing cyber threats during a U.S. Senate hearing. Read more
Houston Oil Benchmark Responds to 2020 ‘Wake-Up Call’
Houston Oil Benchmark Responds to 2020 ‘Wake-Up Call’ June 22, 2021 Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P (NYSE: MMP) and Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE: EPD) on Monday unveiled a new futures contract for the physical delivery of crude oil in the Houston area. Read more
U.S. NRC launches investigation at Southern Georgia Vogtle 3 nuclear unit
U.S. NRC launches investigation at Southern Georgia Vogtle 3 nuclear unit Jun 21, 2021 The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said Monday it launched a special inspection at Southern Co’s Vogtle nuclear power plant in Georgia to identify what led to remediation work at the third unit, which is under…
Utility regulators consider FPL request for biggest rate increase in state history
Utility regulators consider FPL request for biggest rate increase in state history JUN. 21, 2021 The Florida Public Service Commission on Monday convened the first of several public hearings regarding a $2 billion rate increase request by Florida Power & Light, the state’s largest utility company. Read more
CPUC issues proposal establishing independent safety monitor over PG&E
CPUC issues proposal establishing independent safety monitor over PG&E 15 JUNE 2021 As part of the continuing efforts to hold Pacific Gas and Electric Co. accountable for its safety performance, the California Public Utilities Commission has issued a scope of work for an independent safety monitor. Read more
Activists Demand Biden Kill More Pipeline Projects
Activists Demand Biden Kill More Pipeline Projects June 14, 2021 Environmentalists emboldened by this week’s defeat of Keystone XL are pressuring President Joe Biden to revoke permits for other oil and gas pipelines, warning their votes depend on the administration blocking fossil fuel infrastructure. Read more
Xcel Energy Cuts Emission, Set to Attain Carbon Neutrality
Xcel Energy Cuts Emission, Set to Attain Carbon Neutrality June 8, 2021 Xcel Energy announced that it has achieved more than 50% of the carbon neutrality target and is among the few utilities that have pledged to cut emissions from the electricity generation process by 100%. Read more
U.S. shale oil companies keeping production and budgets tight 2021 and beyond
U.S. shale oil companies keeping production and budgets tight 2021 and beyond Energize Weekly, June 9, 2021 U.S. shale drillers are continuing to limit production and spending with the return to pre-pandemic levels years off, according to Oslo-based energy analyst Rystad Energy. Oil output is projected to drop 5.2 percent, about…
Ten Communities Selected For EPA Roundtable Discussions On Lead In Drinking Water
Ten Communities Selected For EPA Roundtable Discussions On Lead In Drinking Water May 26, 2021 Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the ten communities that have been selected for virtual roundtable discussions on EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) Revisions. The roundtables will foster dialogue on the experience…
Biden to Suspend Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Drilling
Biden to Suspend Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Drilling JUNE 1, 2021 The pendulum has swung again in the decades-long battle over drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Biden administration is moving to suspend oil-and-gas leases in the sensitive Alaskan habitat, blocking a last minute rush by the Trump administration to…
Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack Prompts DHS to Issue New Cybersecurity Regulations
Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack Prompts DHS to Issue New Cybersecurity Regulations JUNE 1, 2021 Hot on the heels of an executive order aimed at standardizing federal response to cyber attacks and creating new reporting requirements for government vendors, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is establishing its own requirements specifically…
Biden Administration Strikes Deal To Bring Offshore Wind To California
Biden Administration Strikes Deal To Bring Offshore Wind To California May 25, 2021 The Biden administration plans to open the California coast to offshore wind development, ending a long-running stalemate with the Department of Defense that has been the biggest barrier to building wind power along the Pacific Coast. Read…
Oil and gas market rebound underpinned by market discipline at home and abroad
Oil and gas market rebound underpinned by market discipline at home and abroad Energize Weekly, May 26, 2021 Oil and natural gas have seen a rebound in 2021 but those gains are delicately balanced on market discipline in both global and domestic markets, according to an assessment by industry analyst…
U.S. shale oil output to climb for first time in 3 months in June – EIA
U.S. shale oil output to climb for first time in 3 months in June – EIA May 18, 2021 The biggest increase is set to come from the Permian, the top producing basin in the country, where output is expected to rise by 54,000 bpd to about 4.59 million bpd,…
Green push presents cybersecurity problems of its own
Green push presents cybersecurity problems of its own May 17, 2021 The shift to cleaner energy forebodes greater cybersecurity challenges as the economy adds new technologies and relies increasingly on electricity to fuel vehicles and heat homes. Read more
Rising natural gas prices boost coal production and summer coal-fired generation
Rising natural gas prices boost coal production and summer coal-fired generation Energize Weekly, May 19, 2021 A steady rise in natural gas prices since the start of 2021 has given the U.S. coal industry a boost as electric utilities, the nation’s prime coal consumer, are set to switch to coal-fired…
Biden prepared to take additional steps after Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack
Biden prepared to take additional steps after Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack MAY 10, 2021 President Joe Biden said Monday that his administration was prepared to take additional steps as the energy sector grapples with a colossal cyberattack targeting one of the largest fuel pipelines in the nation. Read more
Duke Energy commits to helping struggling Floridians save money, avoid disconnections
Duke Energy commits to helping struggling Floridians save money, avoid disconnections May 11, 2021 Duke Energy announced a series of steps it is taking to ensure customers who are behind on their utility bills don’t have their power cut off at a dangerous time. Read more
Survey: Among Environmental Issues, Americans Most Worried About Water Quality
Survey: Among Environmental Issues, Americans Most Worried About Water Quality April 28, 2021 Among the most significant environmental concerns facing the country, Americans are the most concerned about the ones that affect water quality, according to the latest iteration of Gallup’s yearly environment survey. Read more
Black Hills Energy joins ONE Future Coalition, commits to reduce methane emissions
Black Hills Energy joins ONE Future Coalition, commits to reduce methane emissions May 03, 2021 by Chris Galford Black Hills Corp., operating utilities as Black Hills Energy, became the latest natural gas company to join the Our Nation’s Energy Future (ONE Future) Coalition last week, committing to reducing methane emissions throughout…
CenterPoint to sell Arkansas, Oklahoma gas utilities for $2.15 bln
CenterPoint to sell Arkansas, Oklahoma gas utilities for $2.15 bln April 29, 2021 U.S. electricity provider CenterPoint Energy Inc (CNP.N) said on Thursday it has agreed to sell its natural gas utility businesses in Arkansas and Oklahoma to privately-held Summit Utilities for $2.15 billion in cash. Read more
Duke vs. Duke: Electric and gas utilities at odds over efficiency rebates in N.C.
Duke vs. Duke: Electric and gas utilities at odds over efficiency rebates in N.C. by Elizabeth Ouzts; Elizabeth OuztsApril 27, 2021 Duke Energy’s effort to expand a popular energy-efficiency program to its entire North Carolina service area is drawing stiff opposition from a surprising quarter: Duke Energy. Read more
Texas Storm Cost NextEra $180 Million in Uncollected Revenue
Texas Storm Cost NextEra $180 Million in Uncollected Revenue Josh Saul and Mark Chediak; Fri, April 23, 2021 NextEra Energy Inc., the world’s biggest investor-owned generator of wind and solar power, said it wasn’t able to collect $180 million in revenue following the Texas energy crisis that left the state’s…
Global energy demand is forecast to rebound in 2021, IEA says
Global energy demand is forecast to rebound in 2021, IEA says Energize Weekly, April 28, 2021 Global energy production and demand is set to rebound from their pandemic doldrums in 2021with energy consumption up 4.6 percent, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). The agency said in its annual Global…
Oil Trader Sees Crude in $70 to $75 Range
Oil Trader Sees Crude in $70 to $75 Range by Bloomberg | Andy Hoffman | Tuesday, April 20, 2021 The head of Vitol Group, the world’s biggest independent oil trader, expects crude demand to come roaring back this year and next as the world emerges from the pandemic. Read more
Cost of winterizing Texas electricity grid worth the expense, Dallas Federal Reserve says
Cost of winterizing Texas electricity grid worth the expense, Dallas Federal Reserve says Energize Weekly, April 21, 2021 The cost of weatherizing the Texas electric power system – which faced a major collapse during a February freeze – could run into hundreds of millions of dollars, but the expense would…
Texas oil pipelines face dry months as production languishes
APRIL 12, 2021 NEW YORK (Reuters) -Nearly half of all oil pipelines from the Permian basin, the biggest U.S. oilfield, are expected to be empty by the end of the year, analysts and executives said. Read more
Texas’ new set of electricity regulators begins to take shape in wake of deep freeze, power outages
By Robert T. Garrett, Apr 12, 2021 A new set of Texas electricity regulators began to take shape Monday, as Gov. Greg Abbott nominated a finance expert to be the next chairman of the Public Utility Commission while his earlier choice of a PUC member moved toward Senate confirmation. Read more
Northeast gas pipeline sparks FERC brawl
Carlos Anchondo, E&E News reporter, Tuesday, April 6, 2021 A fight over a major Northeast pipeline proposal is ramping up after developers asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for more time to complete the natural gas project. Oklahoma-based energy company Williams Cos. is seeking FERC approval for two more years to finish…
Records reveal Entergy’s role in stalling MISO transmission planning
Daniel Tait • April 5, 2021 Entergy coordinated closely with Mississippi Public Service Commission staff and the Commission’s outside consultants to stall regional transmission projects, potentially blocking its customers’ access to lower-cost wind energy from outside Entergy’s service territory and placing them at greater risk of future power outages. Read more
U.S. onshore oil and gas drilling rebounds with smaller, private operators leading the way
Energize Weekly, March 31, 2021 U.S. onshore oil and gas drilling showed signs of recovery in the fourth quarter of 2020 and the first few months of 2021 – sparked by a rebound in oil prices and strong activity among private companies, according to a Colorado School of Mines report.…
Four New Natural Gas Pipelines Come Online In The U.S.
By Charles Kennedy – Mar 16, 2021 The United States increased its natural gas pipeline transportation capacity by around 4.4 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in just three months as four new pipelines entered into service, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Tuesday. Read more
Federal lands drilling moratorium could tip activity toward Texas and away from New Mexico
Energize Weekly, March 10, 2021 The Biden administration’s moratorium on federal lands oil and gas leasing and its review of future leasing could lead to a stark shift in activity to Texas from New Mexico in the Permian Basin, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas analysis. Half of…
Louisiana Offshore Oil Port Loadings Crash to Zero From Record
By Sheela Tobben (Bloomberg) — March 2, 2021 Crude exports from Louisiana’s offshore supertanker port tumbled to zero as Asian buyers limited purchases to manage high inventories that threaten to overwhelm storage facilities. Read more
Xcel Energy plans to transform its Colorado grid, boosting renewables and closing coal plants
Energize Weekly, March 3, 2021 Xcel Energy – in one of the country’s most sweeping initiatives to reconfigure a gird – has announced an $8 billion plan to double its renewable energy generation and storage in Colorado, add transmission and close all its coal-fired power plants in the state by…
Florida water hack shows infrastructure cyber weaknesses
Judy Greenwald, February 23, 2021 A thwarted attempt by an unknown hacker to put lye into a small Florida city’s water treatment facility highlights the need for infrastructure operators to keep software updated and follow other cyber security measures, experts say. Read more
Court rejects latest effort to stop Mountain Valley Pipeline
Laurence Hammack, Feb 20, 2021 An appellate court has declined to stop work on the Mountain Valley Pipeline, dealing the latest blow to arguments that there is no public need for the natural gas that is to be transported by the line. Read more
Collapse of the natural gas system from wellhead to turbine fueled Texas’ blackout
Energize Weekly, February 24, 2021 The near collapse of Texas’ electric grid was caused in the main by a failure of the natural gas system from the wellhead to pipeline to gas turbine, according to an analysis by the International Energy Agency (IEA). “Texas has a power shortage because it…
No abnormalities found at Fukushima nuclear power plants
ANI, 14th February 2021 Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide on Sunday said that no tsunami accompanied the earthquake that struck Saturday Fukushima Prefecture and no abnormalities were found at nuclear power plants in the affected region. Read more
European oil companies changing names and shifting their focus to alternative energy
Energize Weekly, February 17, 2021 European oil companies are continuing their push to reorient and rebrand themselves as comprehensive energy companies and not just producers of oil and natural gas. On Feb. 9, French oil company Total announced it was changing its name to TotalEnergies to reflect a broader strategy…
U.S. energy consumption will take years to rebound from pandemic, EIA says
Energize Weekly, February 10, 2021 It will take years for U.S. energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions to return to 2019 levels after the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country’s economy and the global energy sector, according to the federal Energy Information Administration (EIA). Energy consumption in…
Oil and gas merger activity rebounds in Q4, but a pandemic hangover lingers
Energize Weekly, January 20, 2021 After being hobbled by an economy and commodity prices weakened by the novel coronavirus pandemic, merger activity among oil and gas production companies rebounded in the second half of 2020, according to Enverus, an industry analytics firm. Total activity for 2020 was $52 billion, powered…
Oil and gas activity rebounds in the Permian Basin but economic pressure persists
Energize Weekly, January 13, 2021 After a punishing year, oil and gas activity in a swatch of oil county from Louisiana through Texas to New Mexico rebounded in the fourth quarter of 2020, according to a survey by Dallas Federal Reserve Bank. The bank queried oil company executives in its…
Gas flaring is a problem from Texas’ Permian Basin to Russia’s Siberian oil fields
Energize Weekly, January 6, 2021 The U.S set a record for flaring of gas at well sites in 2019 and was part of a global pollution problem created by a handful of oil-producing countries, according to two energy agencies. An average of 1.48 billion cubic feet of gas was vented…
Global energy efficiency gains slow in 2020, hobbled by coronavirus pandemic
Energize Weekly, December 16, 2020 Energy efficiency gains slowed to their lowest level in a decade in 2020, and feeling the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic, energy efficiency investment is projected to be down 9 percent year-on-year to $227 billion in 2020, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).…
Colorado adopts sweeping oil and gas rules, banning flaring, creating a 2,000-foot setback
Energize Weekly, December 2, 2020 Colorado has adopted the strongest oil and gas regulations in the country and reoriented its oversight agency from “fostering” oil and gas development to “regulating” the industry to protect public health, safety, the environment and wildlife. After more than a year of hearings and negotiations,…
UN rules to reduce carbon emissions from ocean vessels draw fire for being ineffective
Energize Weekly, November 25, 2020 New regulations to cut carbon emission from ocean cargo ships adopted last week by the United Nation’s maritime organization drew immediate fire from environmentalist and analysts who said they will do little to curb pollution. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) approved rules requiring short-term technical…
Voters weigh in on local and state energy issues from renewable energy to oil and gas taxes
Energize Weekly, November 11, 2020 Election returns on state and local energy issues were both literally and figuratively all over the map last week on issues ranging from renewable energy to oil and gas taxes. Voters in Alaska rejected a tax on oil operations while the industry was denied a…
