Main energy topics in the headlines for 2014 include the Crude Export Ban, the Keystone Pipeline, the Climate Change Action Task Force, RFS Volumes, and an expected final ruling on the Tier III mandate from the EPA.
Topics: Energy Independence, Biodiesel Tax Credit, EPA Mandate, US Crude Exports, Cellulosic Ethanol, Keystone XL, RFS, obama
Grassy Hillsides plowed into crop rows. Millions of acres of conservation land converted to corn fields. Fertilizer runoff polluting lakes and streams. All to produce a "green" fuel source.... Or that's the picture painted by an AP article slash expose anyway.
Topics: E85, Ethanol, EPA Mandate, RINs, Biofuels, EPA, Blend Wall, RFS
As we’ve discussed, proponents of overturning the ban on US Crude Exports cite the economic gain to be had, including jobs to be created.
Topics: Energy Independence, Fracking, CRUDE
The EPA has announced it will release the final rule on the Tier 3 gasoline standard by February of this coming year, after revising the timeline due to the volume of responses received. The standard is set to be in effect by 2017, with the stated purpose of reducing harmful vehicle emissions and pollution generated by cars and light duty trucks by dropping the sulfur content of gasoline from its present 30 parts per million down to 10 parts per million. (If you recall, Tier 2 dropped gasolines sulfur content from 300 PPM to the current 30PPM)
Topics: EPA Mandate, Refinery Closures, EPA, Tier 3 Gasoline Standard, Gasoline Supply Crunch
Congress is reportedly considering overturning laws banning US Oil Producers from exporting Crude. The law originally went into place in the 1970’s largely in reaction to embargoes that raised “scarcity” concerns – essentially, blocking export is supposed to safeguard from scarcity in domestic supply. This is timely on their part – as we have seen for the first time since 1995, US Crude production has exceeded imports. What do they have to do with each other? In the absence of an export potential, or at least one not slowed and more expensive due to refining, US crude production will hit a plateau or worse. But why?
Refined oil (gasoline and diesel) can be exported under current US law, and exports have grown substantially in recent years. The issue is, however, that the shale oil boom is producing huge volumes of light crude. In order to export, these huge amounts of crude need to be refined, which is difficult, costly and will ultimately slow production over time. The Council on Foreign Relations sums the issue up nicely in the following quote:
Topics: Energy Independence, US Crude Exports, US Energy Boom, CRUDE
We run a big fleet of trucks, including tankers, straightjobs, box trucks and a fleet of company vehicles driven by our sales team - so we have put a LOT of thought into safety program effectiveness.
Topics: Safety, Safe Driving Policy, Oil & Energy Magazine
In a world of ever appearing new technology the promises the world for your business, how do you decide what options justify the intense time and money investments? For us it comes down to a single two-part question, “Does this streamline our operations for our business and make our employees jobs better and more efficient?” And more importantly: “How does this enhance our customers’ experience?”
One of the technologies we’ve adapted over the past few years that delivers on both these criteria is wireless remote tank monitoring. If you’re unfamiliar, these are essentially small wireless transmitters that are installed on a fuel tank and push notifications on fuel levels periodically. The notifications go to a secure, cloud based platform.
Topics: Marinas, Customer Service, remote tank monitoring
This week a Federal Judge ruled that New England utility companies guaranteed profit rates are too high at their current rate of 11.1% and advised they be dropped to 9.7%. According to boston.com, this is projected to save electricity customers in Massachusetts approximately 50 million dollars a year (out of 115 million for New England as a whole).
Topics: EIA, Hurricane Sandy, Utility Rates, Emergency Fuel, Massachusetts
It's not often that specific Energy Policy issues are topics for discussion at the average American dinner table, but a notable exception to this is the Keystone Pipeline XL. From the nationally televised Presidential primaries and debates of 2012 to dinner tables around the nation, people are divided on the issue and they are definitely talking about it.
Topics: Mayflower, Pegasus Pipeline, Keystone XL