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May 17, 2012
OBAMA’S TEAM ANNOUNCES BIG LEASE SALE IN CENTRAL GULF
Texas industry group applauds move, but president’s critics unmoved
President Barack Obama announced final details Thursday
for a June 20 oil and gas lease sale that will open all remaining areas in the
Central Gulf of Mexico – more than 38 million federal acres –
for exploration and production.
“That’s
absolutely incredible,” said Deb
Hastings, executive vice president at the Texas Oil & Gas Association.
“It’s about time. It’s a good thing anytime they open up any leases, in my
opinion.”
Plans
for the lease sale, as the administration’s news release notes, have been in
the works since January 2012. The final details unveiled today include making
available all 7,276 blocks, some 38.6 million unleased
acres, in the Central Gulf of Mexico offshore Louisiana, Mississippi and
Alabama. The sale will be held in New Orleans’ Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
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By Polly Ross Hughes
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Copyright May 17, 2012, Harvey Kronberg, www.texasenergyreport.com, All rights are reserved
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May 17, 2012
SIERRA CLUB: PUSH ENERGY EFFICIENCY, NOT HIGHER PRICES
Group recommends PUC shift focus for meeting peak electric demand
The Texas
Public Utility Commission should focus on proposed energy efficiency
rules rather than raising wholesale power prices to shore up the Texas electric
grid, according to the Sierra Club’s Lone Star Chapter.
The
group said Thursday it submitted comments regarding a PUC proposal to raise the
maximum wholesale energy prices from $3,000 to $4,500 per megawatt by summer.
Sierra Club notes that an independent analysis by the Electric Reliability Council of
Texas shows the PUC proposal could hike individual homeowners’ average
electric bills by $5 to $15.
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By Polly Ross Hughes
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Copyright May 17, 2012, Harvey Kronberg, www.texasenergyreport.com, All rights are reserved
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May 17, 2012
UT SPEECH ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN MILITARY: 1:15 P.M.
DOD official Sharon Burke, Bass Lecture Hall, 2315 Red River
By Texas Energy Report
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Copyright May 17, 2012, Harvey Kronberg, www.texasenergyreport.com, All rights are reserved
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May 16, 2012
TINTERA LANDS AT TEXAS ALLIANCE OF ENERGY PRODUCERS
Past RRC executive director joins regulatory compliance team
Former Texas
Railroad
Commission Executive Director
John Tintera is
joining the regulatory compliance team at Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, Townes G. Pressler, the group’s board
chairman, announced Wednesday.
Tintera, who left his longtime post at
the helm of the state’s leading oil and gas regulatory agency this spring, will
be specializing in environmental and technical consulting, the Alliance said.
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By Polly Ross Hughes
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Copyright May 16, 2012, Harvey Kronberg, www.texasenergyreport.com, All rights are reserved
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May 16, 2012
WIND POWER BOOSTS STATE’S RENEWABLES BY DOUBLE DIGITS
ERCOT report shows Texas renewable energy generation up 13 percent
Wind
generation helped boost Texas energy generated by renewable sources by 13
percent in 2011, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas,
grid operator for most of the state.
ERCOT
filed its annual report on the Texas renewable energy credit program Wednesday
with the Texas Public Utility Commission, recording 31.7 million
megawatt hours recorded in 2011 versus 28 million megawatt hours in 2010.
The 13
percent gain came mostly from wind generation, which represented the largest
share of renewable generation with 30.9 million megawatt hours. Generation of
hydroelectric power decreased by more than half as a result of last year’s
drought, while solar power generation more than doubled.
A copy
of the report can be read here. By Polly Ross Hughes
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Copyright May 16, 2012, Harvey Kronberg, www.texasenergyreport.com, All rights are reserved
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May 16, 2012
UT HOSTS SPEECH ON MILITARY PLANS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY
DOD to invest $1 billion to upgrade energy efficiency of planes, ships, vehicles
The University of
Texas at Austin
is hosting a 2:15 p.m. speech tomorrow on how the military plans to spend $1
billion to improve the energy efficiency of its aircraft, combat vehicles and
ships.
Sharon Burke, assistant secretary of defense
for operational energy plans and programs, will deliver remarks on the subject
as part of her two-day visit to Austin, according to the College of Liberal Arts. She’ll also meet with energy chief executive
officers at the Austin Chamber of Commerce, university leaders and graduating Texas
Army ROTC seniors.
Burke
will be speaking at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, Bass
Lecture Hall, 2315 Red River. The event is
free and open to the public.
During
the next fiscal year, the U.S. Department of Defense plans to
invest more than $1 billion on energy efficiency methods. These include
enhancing efficiency of aircraft and aircraft engines, building hybrid electric
drives for ships, improving generators and micro-grids for combat bases and
improving efficiency of combat vehicles.
DOD
plans to spend another $1 billion to improve energy efficiency at its
installations and use them to demonstrate next-generation energy technologies.
By Polly Ross Hughes
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Copyright May 16, 2012, Harvey Kronberg, www.texasenergyreport.com, All rights are reserved
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May 16, 2012
LAS BRISAS POWER PLANT FACES BIG SETBACK
Judge finds fault in TCEQ’s air permit for proposed pet coke-fired plant
Environmental
groups on Tuesday hailed a letter from a Travis County judge indicating he will
rule against an air pollution permit that’s critical for the proposed Las
Brisas Power Plant to move forward.
Travis County District Court
Judge Stephen Yelenosky issued
the seven-page letter to attorney’s on both sides, outlining numerous
shortcomings in the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality permitting of the proposed
petroleum coke-fueled plant near Corpus Christi.
“The
court has announced that it intends to rule against the TCEQ because, in
issuing the permit, TCEQ committed a number of critical legal errors,” said Environmental Integrity Project Attorney
Erin Fonken, who represents Sierra Club in the lawsuit.
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By Polly Ross Hughes
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Copyright May 16, 2012, Harvey Kronberg, www.texasenergyreport.com, All rights are reserved
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May 16, 2012
FEDS FIGHT BACK WITH ‘IDLE’ DRILLING REPORT
Industry lets 56 percent of onshore federal lands sit idle, analysis shows
The U.S.
Interior Department’s May 2012 report to President Barack Obama, “Oil and Gas Lease Utilization, Onshore and
Offshore,” states that 46 million acres of lands the federal government
has leased are not being drilled by the oil and gas industry.
“There
are approximately 26 million leased acres offshore and over 20 million leased
acres onshore that are currently idle – that is, not undergoing exploration,
development, or production,” the report says.
Offshore,
nearly 72 percent of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) land –
or 26 million acres – that have been leased to oil and gas companies are not
producing as of May 2012, the report says, or are not subject to pending or
approved exploration or development plans.
The Rest of the Story, Subscribers Only
By Polly Ross Hughes
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Copyright May 16, 2012, Harvey Kronberg, www.texasenergyreport.com, All rights are reserved
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May 11, 2012
TEXAS SCHOOL BUSES GET POLLUTION CONTROL OVERHAULS
Retrofits help school kids breathe a little easier, says TCEQ
The Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality said this week it awarded $1.7
million to Brownsville ISD to retrofit 129 school buses with pollution
control equipment to better protect children from exposure to particulate
matter.
The school
district, in turn, placed its work order with Clean Diesel Technologies Inc.
of Ventura, Calif., an emissions control company, the
TCEQ confirmed. Clean Diesel announced separately that it expects to begin the
work next month and complete it in July.
The Rest of the Story, Subscribers Only
By Polly Ross Hughes
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Copyright May 11, 2012, Harvey Kronberg, www.texasenergyreport.com, All rights are reserved
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May 11, 2012
PHASING OUT DIRTIER DIESEL IN TRASH BUSINESS
Waste Management expands compressed natural gas-fueled fleet
Waste Management said Friday it plans to add another 35
natural gas-powered collection trucks in the Houston
area this year and open a new compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station in Conroe.
The
Houston-based company currently operates five CNG-fueled collection trucks in
the city’s northern suburban communities. Its new fueling station will serve
the company’s local fleet, sell CNG to other commercial fleets and soon serve
retail customers who drive CNG-powered vehicles, the company said.
The Rest of the Story, Subscribers Only
By Polly Ross Hughes
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Copyright May 11, 2012, Harvey Kronberg, www.texasenergyreport.com, All rights are reserved
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May 10, 2012
CRADDICK WINS FIVE NORTH TEXAS ENDORSEMENTS
Sen. Carona, four House members back her bid against Chisum
Texas Railroad
Commission
candidate Christi Craddick of Austin
announced endorsements Thursday from five fellow conservatives in the
Dallas-Fort Worth area for her GOP primary bid to fill the seat vacated by Elizabeth Ames Jones.
Craddick’s
chief primary rival in a six-way race is Rep.
Warren Chisum of Pampa, who has won conservative Republican endorsements as
well.
The Rest of the Story, Subscribers Only
By Polly Ross Hughes
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Copyright May 10, 2012, Harvey Kronberg, www.texasenergyreport.com, All rights are reserved
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May 10, 2012
EAGLE FORD LIQUIDS PROMPT HOUSTON EXPANSION
Copano announces second expansion of cryogenic processing site
With Eagle
Ford Shale producers increasingly concentrating their efforts on
natural gas liquids, Copano Energy LLC announced plans
Thursday to add an extra 400,000 thousand cubic feet (mcf) per day of cryogenic
processing capacity to its Houston Central complex in Colorado County.
The
expanded capacity, with an estimated cost of $190 million, is expected to be up
and running in mid-2014, said spokesman Jack
Lascar, and is the second expansion announced. The initial expansion, also
for 400,000 mcf, is expected to be operating in early 2013. When both
expansions are complete, the facility will have a total high-efficiency
cryogenic processing capacity of 1 billion cubic feet per day.
“Gas
coming out of the Eagle Ford is turning out to be much richer than originally
anticipated,” said Lascar.
The Rest of the Story, Subscribers Only
By Polly Ross Hughes
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Copyright May 10, 2012, Harvey Kronberg, www.texasenergyreport.com, All rights are reserved
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May 10, 2012
FRITO-LAY ADDS NATURAL GAS-FUELED LARGE-LOAD TRUCKS
Also clocks one million miles with all-electric delivery fleet
Frito-Lay of Plano, while celebrating one
million miles with its electric-powered commercial delivery fleet, said
Thursday it’s introducing compressed natural gas (CNG) tractors this spring to
haul large loads.
The
company expects its CNG vehicles to grow to 67 CNG by yearend, eliminating the
need for more than 900,000 gallons of diesel fuel annually.
“As we
push to make Frito-Lay’s fleet the most fuel efficient commercial fleet in the
U.S., we need to continue to build on our current strategy and look for options
to address other types of trucks in the fleet – one of which will be compressed
natural gas for our tractor fleet,” said Mike
O’Connell, senior director of fleet capability for Frito-Lay North America.
The Rest of the Story, Subscribers Only
By Polly Ross Hughes
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Copyright May 10, 2012, Harvey Kronberg, www.texasenergyreport.com, All rights are reserved
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May 9, 2012
UTSA: EAGLE FORD TRANSFORMING SOUTH TEXAS
$25 billion in economic output; $3.1 billion in salaries and benefits
SAN
ANTONIO – The Eagle
Ford Shale’s astonishing expansion in South Texas
last year has ignited unprecedented production gains – oil increased six-fold,
natural gas doubled and condensate tripled, according to a new study at the University
of Texas at San Antonio’s Institute for Economic
Development.
The resulting
economic bonanza will benefit generations of Texans to come, industry experts
and public officials said as the study was released Wednesday. Already the boom has sparked dramatic hikes
in permitting, well drilling and completions, residential and commercial
construction, pipeline construction and multiple support activities.
As one of the
hottest shale plays in the country, the Eagle Ford in 2011 generated $25
billion in economic output in a 20-county region, supported nearly 47,100
full-time jobs and generated $3.1 billion in salaries and benefits for workers,
according to the study by the institute’s Center for Community and Business Research.
The Rest of the Story, Subscribers Only
By Polly Ross Hughes
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Copyright May 09, 2012, Harvey Kronberg, www.texasenergyreport.com, All rights are reserved
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May 8, 2012
JOINT VENTURE WATER DEAL ARRIVES IN PERMIAN BASIN
Remediation project a ‘just in time’ solution for big shale play
Latitude Solutions Inc. and Oil Raiders Logistics Inc. announced
a 50-50 joint venture Tuesday to provide a water remediation center serving the
oil and gas industry in the West Texas Permian Basin.
The deal calls
for the purchase of 192 acres with three fresh water wells that produce 1
million gallons per day in Ward County, the companies said in a joint
statement.
The Rest of the Story, Subscribers Only
By Polly Ross Hughes
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Copyright May 08, 2012, Harvey Kronberg, www.texasenergyreport.com, All rights are reserved
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May 8, 2012
SLEDGE BASHES EPA WITH, YEP, HIS SLEDGEHAMMER
Last week’s ‘pee on fence’ ad gained far more attention
Hitting the
social media world with another catchy campaign ad, Railroad Commission candidate Roland Sledge of Houston asked
supporters Tuesday to “Hammer the EPA.”
So far,
hammering the Environmental Protection Agency with Sledge doesn’t seem nearly
as popular as his “pee on an electric fence” ad from last week, which has drawn
at least 56,174 views, according to You Tube.
Sledge is a
Houston energy attorney and Republican candidate for the seat vacated by former
commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones in
a primary race dominated by state Rep. Warren Chisum of Pampa and Austin
attorney Christi Craddick.
The Rest of the Story, Subscribers Only
By Polly Ross Hughes
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Copyright May 08, 2012, Harvey Kronberg, www.texasenergyreport.com, All rights are reserved
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May 7, 2012
LEADING RRC RIVALS RUNNING NECK-AND-NECK
Chisum holds ‘telephone town halls’ while Craddick launches TV ad
Texas Railroad
Commission
candidate Christi Craddick launched
a slick TV spot Monday, promising to fight off U.S. President Barack Obama. Her chief GOP Primary rival Warren Chisum, meanwhile, revealed he’s
connecting with “hundreds of thousands” of party loyalists statewide via ‘telephone
town halls.’
With
name recognition in Texas politics, Chisum and Craddick are considered the leading
candidates in a six-way race to replace former RRC Chairman Elizabeth Ames
Jones. The two appear locked in
a close battle as the May 29 primary nears, but the ultimate outcome might
await a likely run-off election this summer. A third candidate, Houston energy
attorney Roland Sledge, has strong
oil and gas industry ties as well.
The Rest of the Story, Subscribers Only
By Polly Ross Hughes
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Copyright May 07, 2012, Harvey Kronberg, www.texasenergyreport.com, All rights are reserved
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May 7, 2012
NEW TV AD: CHRISTI CRADDICK AIRS HER FIRST SPOT IN RUN FOR RAILROAD COMMISSIONER
Targets Obama as enemy to oil and gas exploration in Texas
By Texas Energy Report
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Copyright May 07, 2012, Harvey Kronberg, www.texasenergyreport.com, All rights are reserved
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May 4, 2012
TROUBLED CHESAPEAKE CONFIRMS SEC PROBE
Bad news upon bad news intensifies McClendon’s hot seat
Chesapeake Energy
Corp.
confirmed Thursday that the company and its Chairman and CEO Aubrey K.
McClendon are the subjects of an informal inquiry by the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
The
company and its colorful founder, rocked by recent controversies that have sent
its share price plunging, said in a statement that it received notice of the
inquiry yesterday from the SEC, which requested that the company and McClendon
retain certain documents.
The SEC
also indicated that the inquiry by the Fort Worth Regional Office has
begun. The request from the securities watchdog agency noted that the existence
of the inquiry does not necessarily mean that any violation of federal
securities laws has occurred.
The Rest of the Story, Subscribers Only
By Texas Energy Report
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Copyright May 04, 2012, Harvey Kronberg, www.texasenergyreport.com, All rights are reserved
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May 4, 2012
VALERO ENERGY NAMES GORDER CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Executive VP will oversee refining, plus commercial operations
San
Antonio-based Valero Energy Corp. announced Thursday that Joe Gorder has been named executive
vice president and chief operating officer, overseeing refining operations
along with commercial operations – marketing, supply and transportation.
Gorder previously served as executive
vice president and chief commercial officer. He also served as president of Valero
Europe, where he oversaw business activity and operations of Valero’s
assets in the United Kingdom and Ireland, until March when Eric Fisher,
formerly vice president of investor and corporate communications, was named to
that post. As a result of Gorder’s COO promotion, Lane Riggs, senior vice president–refining operations, will now
report to Gorder.
Assets
of Valero Energy subsidiaries include 16 petroleum refineries, 10 ethanol
plants and a 50-megawatt wind farm. About 6,800 retail and branded wholesale
outlets carry the Valero, Diamond Shamrock, Shamrock
and Beacon
brands in the United States and the Caribbean.
By Polly Ross Hughes
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Copyright May 04, 2012, Harvey Kronberg, www.texasenergyreport.com, All rights are reserved
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May 4, 2012
BLUEBONNET SENDS MEMBERS $2.9 MILLION IN CREDITS
Bastrop-based Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative said Thursday its board has voted to give $2.9 million to its members in the form of capital credits.
Bastrop-based
Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative said Thursday its board has voted to
give $2.9 million to its members in the form of capital credits.
The
credits, which are paid each year, are similar to dividends and represent a
portion of each member’s share in the ownership of the co-op. Current members
received refunds on May electric bills while former members, who still owed a
capital credit, will receive a check in May or June, the co-op said in a statement.
“During
the last five years Bluebonnet has returned $18.7 million to its members,” said
Rick Schmidt, Bluebonnet’s board
president. “Paying capital credits is what sets nonprofit, member-owned
cooperatives apart from investor-owned and city-owned utilities.”
By Polly Ross Hughes
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Copyright May 04, 2012, Harvey Kronberg, www.texasenergyreport.com, All rights are reserved
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