As a polar vortex (shades of 2014) grips much of the U.S., challenging the U.S. electricity system, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is scheduled Jan. 10 to reveal its views on the notice of proposed rulemaking it published last year at the behest of Energy Secretary Rick Perry. The proposal would essentially kill existing wholesale … More The polar vortex and the Perry NOPR

The coming year should be mixed for the global oil and gas industry, according to S&P Global Platts “2018 Energy Outlook.” Inventories declined during 2017, says the analysis, almost eliminating the global surplus. 2018 should see U.S. shale production lead global supply to grow faster than demand, but stocks will continue to decline. That could … More Backwardation into 2018

With a full complement of five commissioners for the first time in months, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Dec. 21 got off to fast start, including agreeing to review its controversial process for granting approval of natural gas pipelines. The commission also issued a proposed rule to heighten reporting of cybersecurity issues through the North … More Revitalized FERC off to a fast start

The Republican tax plan about to pass Congress and get President Trump’s signature is proof positive that the United States does not have a national “energy policy.” And that’s a good thing. During the Obama administration, national energy policy was “all of the above.” That’s my idea of a good national energy policy: a meaningless … More Who needs a national energy policy? Not the U.S.

When U.S. Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt spent four days in early December in Morocco touting imports of U.S. LNG, it had Washington energy mavens scratching their heads. What the heck does EPA have to do with exports of U.S. natural gas? Energy Secretary, Commerce Secretary, Secretary of State, all would make sense if … More Does EPA’s Pruitt have political plans?

Three studies released in recent days – the North American Electric Reliability Corp.’s “2017 Long-Term Reliability Assessment,” the Energy Information Administration’s “Short-Term Energy Outlook,” and natural gas guru Andy Weissman’s “Natural Gas Market Update,” – provide no holiday cheer for the U.S. nuclear and steam coal industries. All three reports see continued slow growth or … More No holiday cheer for coal and nukes

The Trump administration illegally withheld $91 million in fiscal year 2017 research funding at the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), violating the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, according to a Government Accountability Office report yesterday. GAO said that under the law, “Agencies may only withhold budget authority from obligation if the President has … More GAO: Trump impounded $91M in DOE funds illegally

Now that British Prime Minister Theresa May and the European Union have reached a deal on initial Brexit issues around the status of European citizens living in Britain and British citizens living in the EU, keeping the border between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland open, and a transfer of some $50 billion to the … More UK energy impact: continental Brexit or full English Brexit?

Mississippi Power’s 582-MW Kemper integrated coal-gasification with carbon capture project is officially dead. The Southern Co. subsidiary and the Mississippi Public Service Commission staff at the end of November reached a settlement that will see the utility eat about $270 million in costs of the failed lignite gasification piece of the project. Mississippi Power last … More What killed Kemper?

Cape Wind Associates has ended its ambitious and controversial 468-MW offshore wind project in Massachusetts, as first reported in the Cape Cod Times. In a statement to the newspaper, Dennis Duffy, Cape Wind veep, said, “Cape Wind has confirmed to the [Interior Department’s] Bureau of Ocean Energy Management that it has ceased development of its … More Cape Wind sails into the sunset after 16 years of futility