Fossil fuels

Comparing the Present to the Past

Tom Brady and Brett Favre, each just one game away from making it to the Super Bowl, are both sure to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame when their careers are over. Many might argue that one or the other is the greatest quarterback ever, but comparing either of them to the stars of the past requires looking at the context of the game in different time periods and making adjustments so that the comparisons are as meaningful as possible.    » read more »

Gassing Up on Tar Sands, Coal, Shale Sharply Increases Aviation Emissions

WASHINGTON (January 10, 2008) -- The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) today urged 15 major U.S. and Canadian airlines and The Boeing Company to publicly oppose the use of jet fuel made from highly polluting sources including liquefied coal, oil shale, and so-called “tar sands,” and called on the airlines to join a campaign seeking increased investment in cleaner fuels throughout the airline industry.    » read more »

January 9, 2008 -- Yesterday was the 73rd anniversary of the birth of Elvis Presley. One of his many hits was the song “Suspicious Minds.” On January 8, EIA released its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), which includes our first short-term forecast for 2009. The STEO projects a moderate decline in oil prices, starting in late 2008 and extending into 2009.    » read more »

Jan. 2, 2008, Des Moines, Iowa – Today, Senator John Edwards released the following statement on the price of oil reaching $100 a barrel:

"Today's report that the price of oil has reached $100 a barrel is just another example of how corporate greed is squeezing the middle class. This increase shows the urgency of taking on the big oil companies so we can build a new energy economy and transition away from oil to other affordable sources of energy.    » read more »

Dec 18, 2007 -- The FutureGen Alliance announced today that Mattoon, Illinois, has been selected as the site for the FutureGen power plant. The next step is for the U.S. Department of Energy to issue a record of decision. In November 2005, Indiana signed a memorandum of understanding with Illinois to partner on the project.

Here is the governor's statement:    » read more »

Waiting for the Goods to Arrive

The internet has made holiday shopping much more convenient. From the comfort of their homes, consumers can do lots of research, make their decisions, put up the money, and then simply wait for the goods to arrive on their doorstep. But anxiety can increase as the holiday draws closer and consumers begin to wonder if the goods will arrive on time.    » read more »

December 14, 2007 -- With gasoline, diesel fuel and home heating oil near record high prices, Michigan families are feeling the squeeze. High energy prices add to the cost of almost everything in our daily lives—the gasoline in our cars and trucks, air travel, heating bills, generating electricity, and manufacturing countless industrial and consumer products.    » read more »

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - A permit to appropriate ground water in order to produce coal-bed methane gas carries with it an expectation that the production of gas will occur in a timely fashion.

This week, State Engineer Pat Tyrrell asked for an explanation of how natural gas operations are putting water to "beneficial use" when little to no gas is being collected from some of their wells. The wells of interest are at least five years old, and are located in the Clear Creek and Crazy Woman Creek drainages of the Powder River Basin. A total of 296 wells are involved.    » read more »

Will Oil Prices Continue to Drop?

Despite an increase yesterday, the spot price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil has dropped over the last three weeks, from nearly $100 per barrel on November 20, to under $90 per barrel for most of last week. So, will crude oil prices continue to drop, and if so, how low might they fall?    » read more »

Too Much Money?

A country music song performed by Daryle Singletary includes the lyrics, “Too much fun, what’s that mean? It's like too much money, there’s no such thing.” However, with current high fuel prices, many American drivers may feel that refiners’ earnings are too high.    » read more »

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - At an energy summit in West Virginia today, Governor Dave Freudenthal said the federal government must play a more pronounced role in fostering the development of clean coal technologies and in developing a cogent policy on the management of carbon dioxide.

"We’re not playing checkers here, this is serious business with serious consequences," Freudenthal said. "It is time for each of us to leave our fuel prejudices behind, mainly because we’re going to need every option that is available."    » read more »

Where Being Above Average is Undesirable

Many readers are familiar with Garrison Keillor’s phrase used on radio’s “A Prairie Home Companion” series, “Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average.” The phrase points to the many times we hope and strive to be above average. But in some situations, we prefer below average. This is the case when it comes to local gasoline prices. Consumers would rather be in an area that has below-average prices.    » read more »

November 30, 2007 -- AUGUSTA -- Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today signed a Declaration of Civil Emergency regarding the high price of diesel fuel and its impact on the State’s forest products industry.

“Diesel prices in Maine are at all-time highs, and it is having a devastating impact on our economy, and particularly on the forest products industry,” Governor Baldacci said. “This emergency order will allow us to take further steps to help truckers and loggers in the State, and place more pressure upon Washington to take action.”    » read more »

Over the River and Through the Woods

As the classic holiday song goes, many Americans will be heading to grandmother’s house or elsewhere tomorrow to share Thanksgiving dinner. However, since very few people will be traveling by horse-drawn sleigh this year, prospective holiday travelers are more likely to be eyeing gasoline prices and wondering just how dear this annual trip will be.    » read more »

Over the River and Through the Woods

As the classic holiday song goes, many Americans will be heading to grandmother’s house or elsewhere tomorrow to share Thanksgiving dinner. However, since very few people will be traveling by horse-drawn sleigh this year, prospective holiday travelers are more likely to be eyeing gasoline prices and wondering just how dear this annual trip will be.    » read more »