Category

Government and Politics

Article, Energy, Government and Politics

Trump’s ‘king of energy’ gets GOP stage

July 19, 2016

Energy isn’t a marquee event at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. But the topic will have its moment in the spotlight Wednesday night when the man dubbed the “king of energy” by Donald Trump will take to the podium at Quicken Loans Arena. Harold Hamm, who like Trump has made billions of dollars in his career, sees the candidate as someone who will rally behind independent oil and gas producers such as himself as they try to regain their footing in a glutted market. (Read more)

Continue reading
by Bill Loveless
Consumer, Energy, Government and Politics, People, Podcast, Policy, Regulations, Utilities and Providers

Columbia Energy Exchange: Phil Sharp

July 11, 2016

Phil Sharp understands energy policy as well as anyone in Washington, having spent 20 years as one of the leading lawmakers on the topic and the last 11 as the president of Washington’s oldest think tank devoted exclusively to analysis of energy and the environment. Best of all, in my estimation, he comes from an era when Congress worked on a bipartisan basis to enact policies addressing concerns over the production of energy and how we consume it – and often did so under a lot of pressure. Phil recalls some of the biggest battles over energy policy on Capitol Hill, the dramatic changes in U.S. energy fortunes, and what we can learn from this experience. Among his new pursuits, Phil is joining the Center on Global Energy Policy as a fellow who will teach and perform research on climate…

Continue reading
by Bill Loveless
Article, Climate, Energy, Government and Politics, Technology, Utilities and Providers

Solar plane partner sees energy reforms in U.S.

June 26, 2016

As he follows the Solar Impulse 2 on its historic flight around the world, the CEO of one of the project’s partners, Ulrich Spiesshofer, draws similarities between the challenges facing the aircraft and those confronting companies navigating changes in energy consumption, like his. “We need to make sure that we demonstrate to the world with projects like this that we continue to stretch the limits,” Spiesshofer, the chief executive of ABB, a multinational maker of electricity grids and robots, said during a visit to Washington the other day. “This project is absolutely stretching the limits.” (Read more)

Continue reading
by Bill Loveless
Climate, Government and Politics, International, Podcast

Columbia Energy Exchange: David Sandalow

June 20, 2016

Seven years ago, David Sandalow pitched an idea that’s turned into one of the biggest international gatherings on clean energy. While an assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy, Sandalow proposed to then-Energy Secretary Steven Chu an annual meeting of energy ministers from around the world to help accelerate the transition to clean energy technologies. The first Clean Energy Ministerial was held in Washington, D.C. in the summer of 2010. Recently, the seventh Clean Energy Ministerial took place in San Francisco.  Delegates from 23 governments and the European Union participated.  Sandalow, the Inaugural Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy, was in San Francisco and, not long after returning, joined Bill Loveless on the Columbia Energy Exchange podcast (Listen here).

Continue reading
by Bill Loveless
Article, Consumer, Corporations, Economy / Finance, Energy, Government and Politics, International, People

Oil supply uncertainty helps pump up prices

June 13, 2016

With oil markets stuck in a slump for two years now, it’s easy to forget how much a sudden loss of supply can impact prices. But the U.S. Energy Information Administrationreminds us of that risk in a new report that puts “unplanned” oil supply disruptions throughout the world at a five-year high in May. (Read more)

Continue reading
by Bill Loveless
Article, Defense, Energy, Government and Politics, International, Technology, Utilities and Providers

An attack on the grid? Power execs push back on Koppel claims

June 5, 2016

Eight months after veteran broadcast journalist Ted Koppel published a book predicting a devastating cyberattack on the U.S. power grid, leaders of the utility industry are sounding off over what they say is an exaggerated claim. “We’re speaking out on it now because we think there is an important story to tell,” Scott Aaronson, the managing director for cyber and infrastructure security at the Edison Electric Institute, said last week at a briefing for reporters. (Read more)

Continue reading
by Bill Loveless
Article, Energy, Government and Politics, International

Trump’s take on oil, OPEC? N.D. speech may offer details

May 22, 2016

As is the case with most of his policy stands, Donald Trump has spoken only generally about how he thinks Washington should treat energy production in the U.S., expressing strong support for the oil, natural gas and coal industries, and promising to cut funding for what he sees as excessive regulation. But this week in North Dakota, the presumptive Republican nominee for president may reveal more about his views on promoting domestic energy, and perhaps take another shot at Saudi Arabia, the leader of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). (Read more)

Continue reading
by Bill Loveless
Article, Economy / Finance, Energy, Government and Politics, Utilities and Providers

Wind power prospects may hinge on gas price, government

May 10, 2016

Fresh government support and growing interest from the utility industry is building expectations that wind power will thrive in the U.S. in coming years. Among the latest such assessments is a new report from Fitch Ratings, which sees the industry steadily expanding its share of the nation’s electricity market. “We see this environment remaining very positive for wind power for the next three to four years,” said Maude Tremblay, director of corporate finance at Fitch, an author of the report. (Read more)

Continue reading
by Bill Loveless
Article, Economy / Finance, Energy, Government and Politics, International

Venezuela turmoil may alter region’s energy landscape

May 1, 2016

With Venezuela on the brink of economic collapse and oil prices low, Caribbean and Central American countries have an opportunity to cut their reliance on Caracas for oil and switch to low-carbon alternatives. The turmoil in Venezuela is only worsening, with President Nicolás Maduro having just reduced his country’s workweek to two days in the midst of an energy crisis. It comes as officials from Caribbean and Central American nations prepare to attend an energy summit in Washington where expanding international cooperation and improving energy security in the region will top the agenda. Vice President Joe Biden will preside over the May 3-4 meeting. (Read more)

Continue reading
by Bill Loveless
Article, Economy / Finance, Government and Politics, International

It’s back to normal for oil after Doha distraction

April 18, 2016

The world oil market can return to normal, at least the normal that has characterized it for the last couple of years, now that a hyped-up meeting of major oil producers has ended without striking a deal to freeze production and bolster prices. The mere hint that Saudi Arabia, Russia and other major oil producers would follow through on a commitment to limit oil output to January levels had contributed substantially to a 50% rebound in prices for the commodity since February, when the goal was announced. But even as delegates from the producing nations arrived in Doha over the weekend, expectations were widespread that the unusual meeting would end in stalemate, as it did on Sunday. (Read more)

Continue reading
by Bill Loveless