You’ve got to wonder if New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo gets tired of his state being compared to other states that are taking forward-looking approaches to energy development – and are seeing job creation and economic growth as a result.

Unfortunately for the governor, that’s what you can expect when you’re keeping significant shale reserves underground – delaying jobs and growth – while other states are realizing both from shale development, states like Pennsylvania, Texas, North Dakota and soon, Illinois.

Lawmakers in Illinois have approved a bill for state regulation of hydraulic fracturing that would clear the way for development of its shale reserves. The measure was crafted with input from industry and environmental groups, including the Sierra Club.

New York continues to dither,... more »

Today on National Maritime Day, let’s salute the merchant marines who operate the tankers that deliver the oil that makes our modern lives possible.

Think about it:  From the gasoline in our cars and trucks to the asphalt in our roads, from bicycle helmets to medical equipment, 60 percent of energy used daily by Americans is delivered by tanker.

The men and women of the maritime industry and the vessels they operate – around the clock and across the world - safely deliver the energy we need. Smaller tankers transport gasoline and other specialized petroleum products throughout the United States, while tankers  as long as the Empire State Building is tall transport crude around the globe.

Over the past decade, more than 99.9997 percent of oil delivered by tankers to the U.S. reached... more »

Kudos to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Ron Wyden for a series of hearings on natural gas issues, including Tuesday's on the impacts of exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG). It’s vital that policymakers understand the scope of America’s natural gas wealth – thanks to hydraulic fracturing – so they can make decisions that will let this wealth work for Americans. The export of LNG is a prime example.

Currently, the Energy Department is considering 18 applications for U.S. facilities that would export American LNG to friends and allies overseas. Studied analyses have projected broad job and economic benefits to the U.S. from LNG exports (here and here), with a new report this week dispelling the notion that exports would significantly impact domestic prices. These reports s... more »

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Number of Women Landing Jobs in Oil, Natural Gas Industry Growing

Good news from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Of 3,900 positions added in the oil and natural gas industry nationwide in the first quarter of 2013, almost half or 1,800 were filled by women.

AEI Ideas Carpe Diem Blog – The Most Economically Successful Metropolitan Area in the Country

As a direct result of all the shale oil and natural gas activity in the Permian Basin area of West Texas, the economy of Midland is booming, writes Mark J. Perry. There is also an unprecedented construction surge taking place in the town – building permits in March skyrocketed to 347, which was a 580 percent increase from  a year ago.

Zanesville Times Recorder – Free Trade Should Include Natural Gas

A... more »

Free Enterprise – Keystone XL: Real Benefits for the U.S.

Sean Hackbarth notes  Keystone XL pipeline developments this week: The House Transportation Committee advanced  a bill that would allow construction of the full pipeline – the third congressional committee to do so; Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was in New York City touting  the project’s benefits  for both the U.S. and Canada; and a small business owner in Maryland told the president that businesses like his  would get a boost from the project.

The Hill – DOE Approves Natural Gas Export Project

A Texas LNG  facility has the green light from DOE  for exports to non-free trade nations. DOE noted that project opponents “have not demonstrated that the requested authorization would be inconsistent with the public int... more »