We need more power…

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Star Trek reference... anyone? Anyway, this guy isn't going to help...

Star Trek reference... anyone? Anyway, this guy isn't going to help...

According to projections released yesterday, starting from 2006 levels, world marketed energy consumption will likely grow by 44 percent by 2030 and unconventional sources could provide nearly half of this growth.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration, in its latest International Energy Outlook seems to think that production growth from unconventional resources, including oil sands, extra heavy oil, and gas-to-liquids fuels will be “almost as large as the increase for conventional supplies.” 

And though this should be right (and hopefully is), there is a condition to the EIA forecast that remains unsettled.  The IEO2009 reference case released yesterday “reflects a scenario in which current laws and policies remain unchanged throughout the projection period.”

Lately, this is a point of concern. Continue reading →

A better idea, the American Energy Innovation Act

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Innovation, conservation, and production! Brilliant!

Innovation, conservation, and production! Brilliant!

Though energy climate change legislation, in the form of a cap and trade bill has now made its way out of Committee, there remains a much more positive option still floating around the House- one that deserves more attention from Congress once they return in June.

Recently the Congressional Western Caucus and Republican Study Committee introduced H.R. 2300, the “American Energy Innovation Act.” This comprehensive energy legislation is designed to encourage innovation within the energy market to make more renewable and unconventional fuels available.  The bill also promotes greater conservation and efficiency by providing incentives reducing energy demand.  Finally, H.R. 2300 includes language designed to increase production of American energy by promoting increased technology and streamlining burdensome regulations.

Innovation, conservation, and production that would lead to job creation and debt reduction.  Makes sense to me.  Hopefully this will pick up some steam in June… until then, you can click here to learn more about the bill. 

“This many-headed monster, Multitude.”

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You can't fake public support

Now that Americans are enjoying significantly lower gas prices, the campaign calls for offshore oil and gas production in 2008 and the boasting of public support that came with them may seem a mere thing of the past.  But even without much attention, that public support remains strong and could soon be politically relevant again.  

Though the long imposed bans on oil and natural gas exploration in most of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf were lifted in 2008 by President George W. Bush and Congress, there are now signs from Washington, particularly within the new administration, of a tenuous flexibility in defining support for offshore oil and gas production.  As a result, the future of American offshore oil and gas development remains uncertain.

Not long after taking office, the Obama administration asserted that only after a “comprehensive” energy plan was established should further offshore development be considered and the U.S. Department of the Interior discarded recommendations made by the Bush administration that would have governed offshore drilling through 2015.  In April, a U.S. District Court of Appeals effectively struck down a 2007-2012 leasing program claiming improper assessment of environmental sensitivity in areas of offshore Alaska.

But with challenges to American offshore oil and gas production mounting, public support is still on its side.  Despite the absence of candidates’ daily clamoring for more offshore development, the American people remain aware of its importance.  Setting aside supply, demand and security arguments; the strong trend of public support for greater American production of offshore oil and natural gas resources is compelling in its own right.

Continue reading →

Congress: The Week Ahead (5/18/09)

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Congress returns this week for a final push before the Memorial Day holiday and the upcoming week of recess for the House and the Senate.  Legislative weeks before scheduled recesses tend to be some of the most jam-packed of the year, and this week will not disappoint that trend.  Both chambers have full agendas full of important items.  But, in Washington, the urgent overwhelms the important.

The most notable, and most urgent, of the legislative items to garner attention this week will be the emergency war supplemental.  After the House approved its version of the bill last week, the Senate will take up its version this week, in hopes to have a final product to the President’s desk before the two chambers adjourn for holiday. Continue reading →

Dr. Joseph A. Stanislaw will speak during IPAA’s Midyear Meeting | June 14 – 16

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Dr. Joseph A. Stanislaw will join The Changing Face of Energy Policy session on Tuesday, June 16 during IPAA’s upcoming Midyear Meeting at The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel.

As an energy industry leader, advisor, strategist and commentator with more than 30 years of industry experience, Dr. Joseph A. Stanislaw serves as an independent senior advisor to the Energy & Resources practice of Deloitte LLP. where he advises clients and colleagues on the global energy industry and future trends in the global energy market. He also assists in shaping responses to those developments for the organization’s clients, focusing on sustainable emerging technologies and innovation.

Dr. Stanislaw is founder of the advisory firm The JAStanislaw Group, LLC, which specializes in strategic thinking and investment in energy and technology and is cofounder and former president and chief executive officer of Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA).
Whether you’re an industry veteran or just starting your career, you do not want to miss this session.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available, please contact Tina Hamlin.

For additional meeting information visit our website.

Registration is available online, or by printing out our faxable form.

If you have registration questions, please email Nikki McDermott.

Administration Burning Bridges

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The Obama administration has made clear their intention to see the United States lead the way toward an energy future devoid of fossil fuel use. Great. Grand. Spectacular. However their path forward does not seem to be much of a path at all, rather a leap of faith that assumes without fossil fuels to make the American economy go, that clearly “green” fuels will fill the void.

Obama Energy Policy

Pictured: Obama Energy Policy

I think the appropriate path forward for America and the world in terms of energy production, transmission, storage and consumption is that we can, collectively and individually, do a better job. We can do these things more efficiently, and with more options available to the consumer to fuel their day to day energy needs, the end result is a wider variety of reliable and affordable energy sources with the ancillary benefits of greater efficiency and a cleaner environment.

Despite the assertions from the administration that America would be better served being less dependent on imported energy, the President’s budget once again betrays his rhetoric. The Wall Street Journal had this piece last week and it is one of many reporting on the issue.

The White House is sticking with other plans to eliminate $26 billion in tax breaks for oil and gas companies. Half of that would come from eliminating a tax break for domestic oil and gas production. Companies say the tax break keeps jobs in the U.S.

It is usually a bad idea to burn bridges but it is particularly reckless to do so before you have even crossed.

Congress: The Week Ahead (5/11/09)

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Congress reports back to Washington this week with a military-themed agenda.  For starters, the House is expected to consider in a floor vote their version of the $96.7 billion emergency war supplemental.  The Senate plans to mark-up their version of the bill this Thursday.  Additionally, the House will consider legislation that proposes an overhaul to how the Pentagon buys major weapons programs… a plan designed to control the swelling prices of weapons programs, and seems to have bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.

Furthermore, both chambers’ Appropriations committees will be ramping up their hearings schedules, beginning with Defense budget hearings that will include testimony from many of the top DoD officials.  After President Obama’s full budget release at the end of last week, the committees have greater guidance on spending priorities for the administration and will begin work on crafting all of the FY 2010 approps bills.  The House committee has 14 hearings slated, while the Senate committee currently has 7 hearings on tap.
  Continue reading →

CEA Energy Day in Washington — Push for Affordable, American Energy

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The Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) once again will bring together consumers, businesses, manufacturers, agriculture organizations, retirees and transportation and energy providers at its annual Energy Day on Capitol Hill to promote an “all of the above” approach to developing America’s energy resources. The event will be held in the Capitol Visitor Center on Wednesday, May 13.

U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas) will address the impact high energy costs are having on consumers. Following their remarks, CEA members Air Transport Association and American Iron & Steel Institute will speak and take questions from the audience. 

Executives from every sector of the U.S. economy will be present to discuss the benefits of affordable, American energy for consumers with Members of Congress and staff. Thirteen U.S. Senators and more than 50 U.S. House of Representatives (Democrats and Republicans) are hosting the event. For more information, please visit http://consumerenergyalliance.org/2009/05/energy-day-2009/.

“Eco-sailors rescued by oil tanker”

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Thank you, thank you, thank you, BBC News:

Eco-sailors rescued by oil tanker

An expedition team which set sail from Plymouth on a 5,000-mile carbon emission-free trip to Greenland have been rescued by an oil tanker.

Raoul Surcouf, Richard Spink and skipper Ben Stoddart sent a mayday because they feared for their safety amid winds of 68mph (109km/h).

All three are reportedly exhausted but safe on board the Overseas Yellowstone.

Mr Surcouf, 40, from Jersey, Mr Spink, 31, and Mr Stoddart, 43, from Bristol, are due to arrive in the USA on 8 May.

‘Heartfelt thanks’

The team, which left Mount Batten Marina in Plymouth on 19 April in a boat named the Fleur, aimed to rely on sail, solar and man power on a 580-mile (933km/h) journey to and from the highest point of the Greenland ice cap.

The expedition was followed by up to 40 schools across the UK to promote climate change awareness. Continue reading →

U.S. Natural Gas and Oil Producers Launch “Energy In Depth” Initiative

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IPAA and the cooperating national, regional and state associations have launched a new coalition to tackle emerging environmental regulatory threats.  The coalition’s first project is to release the findings of a major research initiative, which, among other things, concludes that enacting new federal environmental regulations could have disastrous economic consequences and increase our dependence on foreign sources of oil.

Known as Project BRIEF – Bringing Real Information on Energy Forward – the research initiative is comprised of studies on the history and progress of effective state regulation of energy development, the proper role of the federal government in regulating development, and the economic consequences associated with changes to existing regulatory frameworks. 

To highlight the Project BRIEF findings and educate the public, the coalition also launched a new website, which can be found at www.EnergyInDepth.org.

(An exciting day - lots of congratulations and thanks to all those who helped put this together – an impressive job. The above is taken mostly from the press release that was distributed this morning, the full text of which is available after the jump- please read on and discover more about the results from Project BRIEF and the great new tool and education device now available through www.energyindepth.org. ) Continue reading →