On March 5, the New York Times published a front-page story called “Oil Innovations Pump New Life Into Old Wells.” Getting new oil from “played out” wells was the thrust of the piece; as the price of oil rises, it becomes worthwhile investing new money into old wells. The article also indirectly took on the … Read More
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Development Banks’ Inconvenient Truth
Multilateral development banks concluded a two day conference in London yesterday on “Financing Clean Energy”. Non-governmental organizations were generally shut out of the meeting, restricted to a handful of participants, but a long list of oil and energy companies were in attendance and they were ready to discuss just about anything other than phasing out … Read More
Iraqi Leader’s Catch-22 Over Oil Law
The Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, fears the Americans will torpedo his government if his parliament does not pass Iraq’s controversial oil law. In what could be construed as diplomatic blackmail, American support for the al-Maliki administration is dependent on passage of the Oil Law which essentially gives control of Iraq’s oil wealth to foreign … Read More
US Carmakers Ask for Help
US carmakers have said told a House of Representatives subcommittee that the industry alone could not act on climate change. The heads of the big three – General Motors, Chrysler and Ford – Â said that measures to improve fuel efficiency were not enough and may cost thousands of jobs.
Chevron Invests $1Bln in Gazprom
U.S. oil major Chevron is investing around $1 billion in Gazprom Neft, the oil unit of Russian gas giant Gazprom, something that has been welcomed by the US authorities. “Chevron’s billion-dollar scale investment in Gazprom Neft over the last few months is a positive development,” U.S. Deputy Energy Secretary Clay Sell has been quoted as … Read More
Step it Up On Climate Change
Britain may have committed itself to a 60 per cent cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, but others are trying to go further. The New York Times profiles the efforts of Bill McKibben and others who are organizing a national day of action on climate-change called Step It Up that will happen on April … Read More
The Real Climate Swindle
Oh dear, Channel Four’s reputation is now in freefall after more revelations on its supposedly ground-breaking programme, “The Great Global Warming Swindle.” On Monday we blogged how Carl Wunsch, who had been interviewed for the programme, now complained that “I am the one who was swindled.  What we now have is an out-and-out propaganda piece … Read More
Senate Bill Expands Drilling Closer to Shore
Oil-drilling advocates are pushing for a new bill that would allow energy exploration 45 miles from Florida’s coast, much closer that the current 125-mile limit. Senator Larry Craig, R-Idaho, and Senator Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., will propose more offshore drilling in a bill that would allow U.S. companies to drill in waters close to Cuba as … Read More
UK Unveils Climate Bill
The British government is due to announce its draft climate change bill today, aimed at cutting CO2 emissions by 60% by the year 2050. The law gives the UK the world’s first legal framework for transition to a low-carbon economy. Under the bill, carbon “budgets” will be set every five years following independent advice. The … Read More
Germany Opposes Speed Restrictions
Germany may have often led the way in Europe on environmental issues, but Germans still love their cars. A sophisticated and intense campaign by the German motor industry recently scuppered new EU rules on tight emissions for motor vehicles. In the scrap it is widely seen as the European Commission’s Enterprise and Industry Commissioner GĂĽnter … Read More