January | 2007 | The Price of Oil

Posts in January 2007

The Climate Changes in Washington.
Andy Rowell
Jan18
The New York Times today reports how “Legislation to control global warming that once had a passionate but quixotic ring to it is now serious business” in Washington. The Democrats are increasingly determined to impose the mandatory controls on carbon dioxide emissions, with our major Democratic bills have been announced, with more expected”.
Five Minutes to Midnight
Andy Rowell
Jan18
The clock is ticking. Yesterday the “Doomsday Clock”, devised by the Chicago-based Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists in 1947 at the dawn of the nuclear age, was moved forward from its present seven minutes to midnight, where it has stood since 2002, to five minutes to the Domesday hour. The scientists have decided to move…
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The Billion Dollar Plunder
Andy Rowell
Jan18
A top Interior Department official was told nearly three years ago about a legal blunder that allowed oil companies to avoid billions of dollars in payments for oil and gas pumped from publicly owned waters in the US. According to the New York Times a report by the department’s chief independent investigator, suggests that Interior…
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General Motors Pushes Alternatives to Oil
Andy Rowell
Jan17
The CEO of General Motors, Rick Wagoner, is pushing for government tax credits and fuel subsidies to encourage the development and use of alternative fuel technologies. With the price of oil at its lowest level in 19 months, Wagoner said that the US runs “the risk of reverting back to our traditional energy policy ……
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LNG Projects Stall
Andy Rowell
Jan17
None of the world’s biggest energy companies approved developments last year to increase production of liquefied natural gas, or LNG, according to an article in the International Herald Tribune. The main reason is the cost to build LNG plants has tripled in six years, according to Bechtel Group, the biggest U.S. contractor.
UN: Action on Climate is “Stuck”
Andy Rowell
Jan17
Yvo de Boer, the head of the UN Climate Secretariat, has warned that international action on climate is “stuck” despite the increasing urgency. He says the failure of world leaders to agree on the issue means it is time for the UN to take the lead. De Boer is now pushing for a summit of…
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BP: Report to Heavily Criticise Safety Performance
Andy Rowell
Jan16
A scathing report will be released today that criticizes safety and management practices at BP’s American operations, after an investigation at a Texas refinery nearly two years ago which killed 15 people and injured more than 170 others. The report, by James Baker, the former US Secretary of State, will state: “BP has not always…
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Climate Change Breeds Confused Salmon
Andy Rowell
Jan16
Even the rich and famous are beginning to take notice of climate change. First their skiing holiday has been delayed because there is no snow and now their fishing holiday because the fish are confused. For over 150 years, the start of Scotland’s salmon fishing season on the River Tay has been celebrated in the…
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Asian States Sign Key Energy Deal
Andy Rowell
Jan16
Leaders at an East Asian summit have signed an agreement to promote energy security and find alternatives to conventional fuels. The agreement was signed by 10 South East Asian nations, China, Japan, New Zealand, India, S Korea and Australia.
Interior Dept. Cover-Up of lease scandal
Steve Kretzmann
Jan15
Apparently there are no lengths to which Bush Administration officials will not go in defense of Big Oil. According to Congressional Quarterly, the Interior Department’s Inspector General will shortly issue a report revealing that Department officials, after learning in 2000 of mistakes in leases that could cost the American people $10 billion, proceeded to cover…
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