Oil Drilling News

GULF OIL DISASTER

SUVs for Gulf cleanup? States run up questionable bills with BP recovery money

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42537387/ns/us_news-environment/

"Tasers. Brand-new SUVs. A top-of-the-line iPad. A fully loaded laptop. In the year since the Gulf oil spill, officials along the coast have gone on a spending spree with BP money, dropping tens of millions of dollars on gadgets and other gear — much of which had little to do with the cleanup, an Associated Press investigation shows." 

Florida beaches get $30 million tourism boost from BP

http://whtc.com/news/articles/2011/apr/11/florida-beaches-get-30-million-tourism-boost-from-/

More SUVs?

What spill? In some respects BP is stronger than ever

http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/42572

"Not only is BP still in business, it has more cash today than before the spill. Earlier this year the company negotiated massive energy deals in India and Russia. And, despite opposition from some in Congress, it has even resumed exploration in the deep waters of the Gulf."

 

ENERGY POLICY

"Drill Baby Drill" Won't Solve America's Energy Problems

http://dc.streetsblog.org/2011/04/11/drill-baby-drill-wont-solve-americas-energy-problems/

EDITORIAL: Drilling for trouble

Three GOP bills would expedite offshore leases

http://www.registerguard.com/web/opinion/26095330-47/drilling-deepwater-environmental-horizon-offshore.html.csp

Oil-Drilling 'Renaissance' Set to Eclipse Gas: Chart of the Day

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-11/oil-drilling-renaissance-set-to-eclipse-gas-chart-of-the-day.html

I'm so confused.  I thought there was a moratorium.

ALTERNATIVES TO OIL

Honda's 'greenest' Civic to hit US showrooms

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-04-greenest-car-youve-heard.html

Cost-effective EV battery passes German tests, recharges in minutes

http://gm-volt.com/2011/04/12/cost-effective-ev-battery-reportedly-passes-tests-recharges-in-minutes/

Oil Drilling News

GULF OIL DISASTER

A year after Gulf oil spill, Congress is sitting on its hands

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2011/04/a_year_after_gulf_oil_spill_co.html

"A year after the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster, Congress has done virtually nothing to address the issues raised by the oil spill -- from industry liability limits, to regulatory reform, to coastal restoration, to broader issues of energy policy."

Longtime oil industry champion now calls BP liars, almost a year after oil spill

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2011/04/longtime_oil_industry_champion.html

Gulf's Complexity and Resilience Seen in Studies of Oil Spill

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/12/science/12spill.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

The Gulf War - 

Were there any heroes in the BP oil disaster?

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/03/14/110314fa_fact_khatchadourian?mbid=social_retweet

Webcast - One Year After the Gulf Oil Spill

Date: Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Time: 6:30 pm

http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-news/changing-tides-series-ocean-discussions

Mock Oil Spill/Oil Spill Anniversary Event

Boston, MA

April 20, 2011 12:00PM to 01:00PM

http://local.350.org/actions/events/show/435

"This event will be done in solidarity with 7 other events along the east coast."

ALTERNATIVES TO OIL

Gas Stations Get Aid to Sell More Ethanol

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704503104576251023724394758.html

Oil Drilling News

GULF OIL DISASTER

Scientists link oil on dolphins to BP spill

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/07/us-oilspill-dolphins-idUSTRE7367OP20110407?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews

OFFSHORE OIL DRILLING

Government shutdown would halt onshore — not offshore — permitting

http://fuelfix.com/blog/2011/04/07/government-shutdown-would-halt-offshore-permitting/

Rachel Maddow Interviews Director Michael Bromwich of BOEMRE

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/vp/42485182#42485182

Offshore Drilling, Onshore Spilling (Skytruth)

http://blog.skytruth.org/2011/04/offshore-drilling-onshore-spilling.html

"Yesterday, BOEMRE awarded the 9th deepwater drilling permit since the BP / Deepwater Horizon spill to Murphy Oil Corporation to resume work on a well in the Green Canyon area of the Gulf of Mexico. If the name sounds familiar, it should: in 2005 a Murphy oil storage tank damaged by hurricane Katrina spilled one million gallons of crude oil into a residential neighborhood in Chalmette, Louisiana; the biggest single spill of the 9 million gallons estimated by the US Coast Guard that spilled from storm-damaged facilities onshore and offshore. [...] Folks in Virginia might want to think about that as their politicians lead the charge to expand offshore drilling in US waters."

ALTERNATIVES TO OIL

EPRI Analysis estimates costs of fully developing US smart grid could reach $476B; benefits up to $2T

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/04/epri-20110408.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+greencarcongress%2FTrBK+%28Green+Car+Congress%29

Oil Drilling News

OFFSHORE OIL DRILLING

US Republicans Target May For Vote On Bills Requiring Oil And Gas Leases

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=201104061247dowjonesdjonline000505&title=us-republicans-target-may-for-vote-on-bills-requiring-oil-and-gas-leases

'More lives at risk' in spills

Democrats say Republicans 'in denial' about Gulf oil disaster

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/7510700.html

"Democrats on Wednesday slammed House Republicans for pushing legislation that would dramatically expand offshore drilling before mandating new safety requirements in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster."

More Holes at the Bottom of the Sea Won't Lower Gas Prices (NRDC blog)

http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/dlovaas/more_holes_at_the_bottom_of_th.html

ENERGY POLICY

Koch's web of influence

http://www.publicintegrity.org/articles/entry/3120/

"Koch has lobbied to preserve some of the oil industry's coveted tax breaks and credits. 

One benefit is known as the Section 199 deduction, approved by Congress several years ago to help the hard-pressed U.S. manufacturing sector. In light of the oil and gas industry's hearty profits, the Obama administration and members of Congress have sought to end the Section 199 subsidy for energy firms and save the U.S. Treasury $14 billion over 10 years. But Koch lobbyists and trade associations have worked to preserve the deduction."

ALTERNATIVES TO OIL

G.E. Plans to Build Largest Solar Panel Plant in U.S.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/07/business/energy-environment/07electric.html

IEA urges scrapping $312b fuel subsidies

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/biz/inside.asp?xfile=/data/biztalk/2011/April/biztalk_April9.xml&section=biztalk

""More aggressive clean energy policies are required, including the removal of fossil fuel subsidies and implementation of transparent, predictable and adaptive incentives for cleaner, more efficient energy options," said the Clean Energy Progress Report."

Little Relief Seen From High Oil Prices

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/07/business/global/07oil.html

"...for the long term the best way we can avoid rising prices is investment in projects, nonconventional energy and reducing consumption in all countries." 

       

Oil Drilling News

OFFSHORE OIL DRILLING AND THE GULF

U.S., Mexico work to raise bar in Gulf

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/7506752.html

Transocean execs to donate bonuses

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52621.html

"In a potential saving-grace move for the company, Transocean CEO Steven Newman and other senior officials are giving away more than $250,000 in bonuses granted for the company's safety performance in 2010 despite being the operator of the Deepwater Horizon rig, which exploded April 20, killing 11 workers."

BP asks fine not be based on total of spill

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/energy/7508609.html

"BP said in the court filings it was not willfully negligent and that federal officials should use a different method for assessing fines under the Clean Water Act — levying a fixed fine for every day the well flowed. That fine is $32,500 per day. 

Using the daily figure fines could run from $2.8 million to $4.9 million, depending on whether one uses the date the well was capped or permanently sealed. The per-barrel figure could lead to fines ranging from $4.1 billion to more than $20 billion."

Spill woes persist as anniversary of BP's blowout nears

http://www.louisianaweekly.com/news.php?viewStory=4053

VIRGINIA

US Rep. Bob Goodlatte's legislation seeks to open Virginia's coast to gas and oil exploration

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/us-rep-bob-goodlattes-legislation-seeks-to-open-virginias-coast-to-gas-and-oil-exploration/2011/04/05/AF3aX3kC_story.html

"The proposal by Goodlatte would require the Department of the Interior to move ahead with a Virginia lease sale no later than one year after its passage."

NEW ZEALAND

Disaster Waiting to Happen in NZ?

http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/oil-lobby-supports-call-more-offshore-inspectors-nn-90056

"They said prospecting licences were being granted for New Zealand's continental shelf with little environmental scrutiny, with wells likely to be at depths greater than the exploding BP Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico."

ENERGY POLICY

Republicans propose energy program cuts in 2012 budget outline

http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/NaturalGas/6967982

"Ryan, who heads the House Budget Committee, did say Republicans plan to encourage more domestic oil and gas production and less spending on some energy research."

ALTERNATIVES TO OIL

The Surprisingly Long History of Green Energy (TIME Magazine)

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2063521,00.html

"Madrigal suggests a policy of countercyclical investment by the government, ensuring that there is public research money and subsidies available for green energy during those fallow periods when the private markets go missing."

Siemens introducing new 22 kW fast charging station for plug-ins

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/04/siemens-20110404.html?cid=6a00d8341c4fbe53ef014e606122c7970c

Oil Drilling News

DEEPWATER DRILLING

11 environmental groups call on White House to strengthen offshore drilling regulations

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/04/11_environmental_groups_call_o.html

"Representatives of 11 major environmental groups Tuesday called on President Barack Obama to observe the first anniversary of the blowout of BP's Macondo well this month by implementing additional safeguards for offshore drilling."

Gulf of Mexico - Deepwater Development  (Skytruth)

http://blog.skytruth.org/2011/04/gulf-of-mexico-deepwater-development.html

Check out the maps of deepwater oil & gas wells (276) and production platforms (46) in the Gulf of Mexico.

ALTERNATIVES TO OIL

Saudi Arabia Looks to Solar, Nuclear Power to Reduce Its Oil Use by Half

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-03/solar-nuclear-energy-to-reduce-saudi-oil-demand-official-says.html

"Saudi Arabia, which holds one-fifth of global oil reserves, aims to pursue renewable energy and nuclear power to help reduce by half the crude and natural gas it burns now to generate electricity." 

You know that oil is not a viable long-term energy strategy when Saudi Arabia starts talking about renewables. Also see the article below.

Belectric Wins Contract for Largest Saudi Solar Plant in a Parking Lot

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-04/belectric-wins-contract-for-largest-saudi-solar-plant-in-a-parking-lot.html

Oil Drilling News

GULF OIL DISASTER

BP ends deep-cleaning operation; mayor relieved, activist skeptical

http://blog.al.com/live/2011/04/bp_finishes_deep_clean_operati.html

Gulf Spill Rig Owner: Well Done, Execs! (NWF blog)

http://blog.nwf.org/wildlifepromise/2011/04/gulf-spill-rig-owner-well-done-execs/

"Transocean, the company that owned the Deepwater Horizon oil rig at the center of last summer's Gulf oil spill, is giving bonuses to its executives for outstanding achievements in safety."

MORE DRILLING?

BP Seeks to Resume Drilling in Gulf of Mexico

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/business/energy-environment/04bp.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&src=busln&adxnnlx=1301937047-4H0h1hiqg+bqNeKniJJCKQ

"But granting permission to BP would be more controversial because the British oil company is still paying for costs related to the oil spill, the cleanup and the continuing civil and criminal investigations into the accident. BP so far has set aside more than $40 billion to cover those costs. 

The administration has pressed BP to ensure that victims of the spill are compensated, but the company has said publicly it needs to resume drilling in the gulf in order to have the financial resources to pay the claims submitted by federal and state officials, and individuals and businesses."

Logic, not hype, on offshore drilling

http://hamptonroads.com/2011/04/logic-not-hype-offshore-drilling

"It's no wonder that a guy from the West Coast would want to get things started by drilling off Virginia Beach. It's what the oil companies want. But given last year's disaster, and the horrendous deal this represents for the commonwealth, Virginians should be skeptical of such illusory treasures - and any politician who promises them."   

EARTH DAY AND THE SPILL ANNIVERSARY

Will Earth day be overshadowed by another environmental disaster?

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/03/23/earth.day.issues/

"A year ago, the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history began on April 20 -- which, ironically, also marked Earth Day. The catastrophe started with a massive explosion on an offshore oil drilling rig that killed 11 workers and sparked a huge fire that eventually sank the rig. More than 200 million gallons of crude oil gushed into the Gulf of Mexico over the next five months, killing thousands of marine animals and affecting thousands of people in the fishing industry -- already struggling in the economic downturn. The exact toll on the Gulf's ecosystem is still as murky as the ocean waters affected by the disaster."