The Financial Times has just revealed that the oil trading arms of BP, Shell and Vitol have applied for licenses to export U.S. crude to Canada.
Author: Lorne Stockman
Boom goes the oil industry, bust goes the climate
There was the tar sands boom and then the shale gas boom. Then there was the export boom and the tight oil boom. Now it seems there’s the midstream boom.
Tar sands reality check
Analysts are starting to question the tar sands industry’s “wildly optimistic” growth plans and some projects are slowing down. Here’s why.
Fires, storms and the energy independence myth
All the talk of Hurricane Isaac and the RNC has so far failed to notice the gaping hole appearing in what is not only the Romney/Ryan energy platform but also the platform of the entire North American oil and gas industry. And frankly, while politicians might be forgiven (and I mean might) for not fully … Read More
A big mess at Motiva and why Gulf Coast refiners are making a killing
While Chevron’s Richmond refinery has been making the news lately with a very visible incident, our attention has been drawn to less noticed recent events in America’s biggest refining center on the Gulf Coast, where what was to become the country’s largest refinery also ran into a spot of trouble. You’d think that if you … Read More
Report – Low Hanging Fruit: Fossil Fuel Subsidies, Climate Finance, and Sustainable Development
Our latest report finds that global fossil fuel production and consumption subsidies are at least $775 billion annually and could be $1 trillion or even more. There is an urgent need for transparency in subsidy reporting.
The Dirtiest Congress in History
This Congress is on track to be the dirtiest ever. In the current cycle (since January 2011) dirty energy companies have spent at least $43.5 million on influencing federal elections in America.
Saudi oil import rise exposes the lie of North American oil independence
For some time now we have been told that the ongoing North American oil boom will end US reliance on Middle Eastern oil and change America’s foreign policy dynamic with regards to ‘hostile’ oil producers. Nothing could be further from the truth. The latest petroleum statistics from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) show that in … Read More
New Study: Oil Subsidies Waste Money, Don’t Encourage Production
Thanks to The Checks and Balances Project for this cross post and Headwaters Economics for the study. When you fill up your tank for vacation this summer, keep in mind that the dial at the pump is spinning faster than you think. In addition to what you pay at the pump, your tax dollars are … Read More
BP refinery rollover shows tar sands refineries need to clean up
It’s taken four years and millions of dollars in lawyers for BP to finally agree to do what it should have done in the first place at its Whiting, Indiana refinery. The refinery has been constructing new equipment to enable it to switch to 100% tar sands heavy oil processing, a $3.6 billion investment. But … Read More