oil
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House holds hearing on MMS scandal; Kempthorne recommends ethics training
On Thursday the House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on the MMS scandal currently providing humorists with so many drilling puns. Pelosi’s blog has an account of the hearing. (See also E&E News, $ub req’d.) The most amusing part was the righteous performance from Rep. George Miller, particularly this exchange with Interior Secretary Dirk […]
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From the mouths of oil executives …
“There is certainly some potential. But to me the biggest potential in America that is not exploited is energy savings. There is such an immense opportunity.” — Paolo Scaroni, chief executive of Italian oil giant ENI, on offshore drilling
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Asked about oil’s fungibility, Palin says … um, something
“Oil and coal? Of course, it’s a fungible commodity and they don’t flag, you know, the molecules, where it’s going and where it’s not. But in the sense of the Congress today, they know that there are very, very hungry domestic markets that need that oil first. So, I believe that what Congress is going […]
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Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales are pursuing dramatically different environmental strategies
Over the past decade, the current British government has taken a crack at devolution, giving Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales a level of operational government unseen for a century or more. The fledgling administrations of these three “devolved nations” have embarked on very different policy trajectories on the environment, among other policy areas. The sustainable […]
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Do we want an economy that’s a bit more Belgian or Belgian Congo?
A simple syllogism to expose the flaws in our GHG debate: Fossil fuels cost money. When burned, fossil fuels emit CO2. Therefore, burning less fossil fuel saves money and CO2. The logic is impeccable (even if not quite as entertaining as Lewis Carroll’s syllogisms). And yet our entire GHG debate continues to be framed as […]
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House energy bill includes oil-shale provisions that alarm conservation groups
The energy bill that passed in the House last night also permits forward movement on commercial oil-shale development, a provision added to the legislation on Monday. The provision repeals the current moratorium on finalizing regulations regarding oil-shale production, and would allow states to decide whether or not to permit oil-shale development on federal lands within […]
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‘Transition Towns’ get ink
The Christian Science Monitor — one of the best of a dying breed —does an excellent job on the "Transition Towns" movement here.
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Big Oil whines that it’s something for nothing
The oil industry has figured out what I’ve been saying for weeks: The Senate Gang of 20 swap of limited, offshore drilling for lots of clean energy is something for nothing. I hope Congressional Dems figure that out, too, and vote for the darn thing in droves. The key fact to bear in mind is […]
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McCain/Palin energy lie about Alaska the latest to come in for media scrutiny
In her Friday interview with Charlie Gibson, Sarah Palin said that Alaska "produces nearly 20 percent of the U.S. domestic supply of energy." McCain has said the same thing — in an interview with Univision that aired Friday, he said, "Alaska supplies 20 percent of America’s energy." It’s clearly an established campaign talking point. Thing […]