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Corporations

Article, Climate, Consumer, Corporations, Economy / Finance, Energy, Government and Politics, Regulations

Time for a carbon tax? A former Bush official says yes

October 9, 2016

Putting a price on carbon emissions remains a divisive topic in the USA, even as polls indicate considerable public support for actions to address climate change. Voters in Washington state may show the way  Nov. 8 when they decide on a referendum that would assess a carbon tax on coal, oil and natural gas, a move aimed at lowering emissions that contribute to climate change without digging deeply into people’s wallets. (Read more)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Consumer, Corporations, Economy / Finance, Energy

Oil companies slip in new list of leading energy firms

October 2, 2016

Integrated oil majors like ExxonMobil, Chevron and Shell once dominated the standings of the world’s leading energy companies, with assets, revenue and earnings far outpacing just about everyone else. That’s not the case anymore, as companies that sell electricity and refine crude oil into fuel are gaining ground, as seen in a new survey by S&P Global Platts, a provider of energy information and benchmark prices. (Read more)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Corporations, Economy / Finance, Energy, Government and Politics

Oil’s slide will affect sector for ‘some time,’ CEO says

September 11, 2016

Still in the midst of their worst downturn in 30 years, big oil companies warn that world oil markets are likely to remain vulnerable to sharp swings in prices for years to come. Among the latest alerts is one from Ryan Lance, chairman and CEO of ConocoPhillips, the world’s largest independent exploration and production company. (Read More)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Climate, Corporations

Shell CEO: Red lights on path to greener energy

September 7, 2016

It’s no surprise that major oil companies are viewed as contrarians when it comes to climate change, even though all of them acknowledge the phenomenon and agree on the need for a response to one extent or another. After all, keeping temperatures from rising to catastrophic levels will require the world to wean itself off fossil fuels and turn to cleaner forms of energy, hardly an appealing proposition to the financial wellbeing of oil producers. But now the leader of one of the world’s biggest oil companies is telling his peers to accept the role unapologetically. (Read more.)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Corporations, Defense, Government and Politics, Policy, Regulations, Utilities and Providers

Army heeds Obama call, attacks high energy bills

August 14, 2016

Improving the energy efficiency of buildings is generally considered to be one of the most practical ways that a property owner can cut the cost of lighting, heating and cooling. Now, the U.S. Army is demonstrating in spades the pragmatism of such moves as it surpasses the $1 billion mark in responding to a 2014 challenge by President Obama to all federal agencies to achieve $4 billion in energy savings performance contracts by December. (Read more)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Corporations, Economy / Finance, Energy, Organizations

‘World’s energy superpower’ fights OPEC obsession

August 10, 2016

Although OPEC’s influence over world oil prices has declined in recent years, the mere mention of a meeting by the cartel’s member countries is still enough to trigger speculation and move the market. We saw that Monday when oil prices jumped 3% in New York after news broke that OPEC planned to assemble unofficially in Algeria in September in response to the latest setback in the market. (Read more.)

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by Bill Loveless
Consumer, Corporations, Energy, Podcast, Utilities and Providers

Columbia Energy Exchange: Exelon’s Chris Crane

August 9, 2016

Electric power companies across the U.S. are going through a period of unprecedented change. Low-cost natural gas, new technology, rapid expansion of renewables, and initiatives to reduce carbon emissions are some of the major factors shaking up the electricity sector. Moreover, for some power companies, keeping their nuclear power plants alive is another big challenge. On this episode of Columbia Energy Exchange, we welcome Chris Crane, the president and CEO of Exelon Corp., a Fortune 100 energy company with the most utility customers in the U.S., and the nation’s leading operator of nuclear reactors. Crane talks with host Bill Loveless about the ways in which he is piloting his company through this transformation. And on a timely note, they discuss a new clean energy standard in New York that would keep some nuclear power plants alive. (Listen here)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Corporations, Economy / Finance, Technology

Green energy growth fuels an urge to merge

August 7, 2016

The planned marriage of Tesla Motors and SolarCity is causing a stir in energy markets, with two of the most innovative companies in electric cars and solar energy aiming to take a commanding lead in green energy in the U.S. But the combination is just one of many big deals that signal a banner year for mergers and acquisitions in the North American electric and natural gas markets, driven by fundamental changes in those industries. (Read more)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Corporations, Economy / Finance, Energy

Oil’s slide: Some lenders are bearing up

August 1, 2016

The two-year-old slump in oil prices continues to take its toll on producers, with no end in sight. And that pain extends to the regional banks that cater to the oil patch. But some banks insist that the difficulties aren’t as bad as they may seem. Among them is BOK Financial, a Tulsa-based bank that’s been lending to producers for 100 years. (Read more)

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by Bill Loveless