The Hill: EPA to listen to electric, oil industry concerns about climate rules: The Environmental Protection Agency will hold a series of "listening sessions" in the coming months in order to get input from stakeholders on the agency's plans to implement new greenhouse gas standards on power plants and refineries. EPA is certain to get criticism from a slew of stakeholders who fear the new rules will be a nightmare for industry, particularly during the sessions focused on the electric-power and oil industries. The New Orleans Times-Picayune: Shell application for deepwater exploration in the Gulf of Mexico takes step forward: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement launched a 30-day review Friday of the first exploration plan for deepwater activity in the Gulf of Mexico "completed in accordance" with new safety and environmental standards implemented in the wake of the BP disaster. The announcement was hailed by the applicant, Shell Offshore Inc., as a positive step toward renewed deepwater drilling in the Gulf. "We applaud today's announcement ... and believe this project can set the direction for a return to work in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico," Shell spokesman Theodore Rolfvondenbaumen said. "We will continue to work with the appropriate federal agencies to improve the permitting process to more efficiently return the men and women of the oil and gas industry to their jobs."

Hot Air: Oil Rigs - and Jobs - Already Moving Out of Gulf: We have previously covered the disappointing response from the Obama administration in approving new drilling permits following last summer's oil spill in the gulf, warning that such an unofficial "permitoreum" would have consequences. Among the many negative potential results would be energy companies taking their ocean-going rigs and moving them to places where they could get back to work, rather than sitting idle and costing them huge amounts of money. And when the rigs leave, the jobs leave, along with all of the associated economic stimulus to other related American businesses. Well, that didn't take long: Jan 27 (Reuters) - Some of the 30-plus deepwater rigs that were in the Gulf of Mexico have moved to other markets, first because of a U.S. halt called last May after BP Plc's (BP.L: Quote) well blowout, and then because of the lack of permits once the moratorium was lifted.

Additional Resources:

Fox Business: Shell First to Get Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Drilling Review Since Spill

Bloomberg: On the Call: Chevron waits for access to Gulf

Public Opinion: Impact of Marcellus Shale gas drilling will be felt in Franklin County and across state