Chicago Tribune – Illinois Governor Signs Bill to Regulate Fracking

Illinois is one step closer to  hydraulic fracturing after bipartisan legislation regulating the process was signed into law by Gov. Pat Quinn. Lawmakers say they hope the new regulations will encourage the oil and natural gas industry to invest in Illinois, helping to create jobs.

Fuel Fix Blog – Colleges Plan Training for Gas Drilling Jobs

Two colleges in southern Illinois are getting a jumpstart on possible oil and natural gas development in the state. Southeastern Illinois College and Rend Lake College are planning to provide training programs focused on safety and other areas related to  energy development.

ExxonMobil Perspectives – A Funny Idea of What “Back In Business” Means

Ken P. Cohen writes that oil... more »

Great question during the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s annual energy conference this week – paraphrasing: Given the technologies, the innovation and risk-taking that mark today’s oil and natural gas industry, what‘s the ceiling for oil and gas development over the next few decades? The U.S. Geological Survey’s Donald Gautier took a crack at it:

“Every time I look at world oil or gas resources, I start adding things up, and I end up with enormous numbers. It just seems like an unavoidable fact, and the issue is about human activities and the contraptions they’re using for getting this out. There is certainly no shortage of molecules out there.”

In other words, oil and natural gas potential will be defined by us – through energy leadership, vision and policy. It will be... more »

Washington Post – Why We Should Speed U.S. Gas Exports

In an op-ed for the Post, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming writes that the United States has a rare opportunity through natural gas exports to simultaneously create jobs, strengthen our foreign policy hand and help allies abroad. “Make no mistake: Our allies need energy to grow,” he writes. “If the United States does not supply that energy, someone else will.”

The Telegraph – U.S. Having Real Energy Revolution with Oil Surge

“Despite disruptions to oil supply in Africa and parts of the Middle East, rising US output ensured that global oil production continued to grow,” writes Garry White.

Houston Chronicle – FracFocus Becomes More User-Friendly

The hydraulic fracturing chemical registry has been updated to allow users to... more »

In a blog post earlier this month Kristy Moore of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) took some shots at testing by the Coordinating Research Council (CRC) that showed higher levels of ethanol in fuel could damage the engines of millions of U.S. vehicles. A separate CRC study found that higher ethanol blends also could damage fuel pump systems, potentially leaving motorists stranded on the road and/or stuck with repair bills.

Obviously, both findings complicate RFA’s mission to increase ethanol use – which explains RFA’s cavalier dismissal of sound research and sound science, as well as its disingenuous defense of mandates in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which is forcing more ethanol on the public than is safe.

Moore’s post, “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: CRC’s Engi... more »

The energy stimulus from shale development last year in Pennsylvania is big – big as in approaching a number with nine zeroes:

• $202.4 million collected in state impact fees from energy producers.
• $731 million in rents and royalties paid to land and mineral rights owners.

That’s nearly $1 billion from the oil and natural gas industry in terms of tax revenues for government to allocate (more below) and payments to individuals.

Pennsylvania officials announced this week $202,472,000 was collected in producer-paid impact fees in 2012. About $204 million was collected for 2011, bringing the two-year total to more than $406.6 million, state officials said. Public Utility Commission Chairman Robert F. Powelson:

“The PUC is entrusted by the Governor and the legislature with th... more »