President-elect Donald Trump has chosen his nominees for the departments of energy, state and head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but they must first be approved by the senate. Trump nominated former Texas Gov. Rick Perry for Secretary of Energy, ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State, and Oklahoma Attorney General E. Scott […]
Read MoreWeek in Review: April 18th
These are the biggest articles circulating the natural gas industry for the week of April 18, 2016. Kane Lawsuit Delays Natural Gas Royalties Settlement Payment – TribLIVE By David Conti Kathleen Kane, the Pennsylvania Attorney General, has embarked on far-reaching legal battle over natural gas royalties. The lawsuit delayed the payment of nearly $11 million […]
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Petroleum Association Supports Lifting U.S. Crude Export Ban
Akron Beacon Journal By BOB DOWNING From the Independent Petroleum Association of America today: WASHINGTON, D.C.– The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) and a coalition of energy trade associations sent a letter to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) in support of their bipartisan legislation […]
Read MoreInterior’s new fracking rules get swift GOP backlash
Politico By Elana Schor The Obama administration unveiled the first major national safety restrictions for fracking on Friday, touching off a swift backlash from the president’s critics in Congress and the energy industry. Two oil industry groups immediately sued to challenge the rules, calling them “a reaction to unsubstantiated concerns,” while 27 Senate Republicans introduced […]
Read MoreGas drillers may pay to help revive solar industry
The Stanley News and Press By John Finnerty HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf’s plan to tax gas drillers will pump millions of dollars into schools, but it could also help subsidize alternative energy sources like wind and solar. Wolf proposes borrowing $675 million for economic development projects, which will be paid down by $55 million from […]
Read MorePennsylvania nears end of investigation into whether drilling companies cheated landowners
Power Source By Marc Levy HARRISBURG, PA. – Pennsylvania state investigators are close to wrapping up an investigation into complaints that landowners in northeastern Pennsylvania are being cheated of royalties by natural gas companies exploring the Marcellus Shale, Attorney General Kathleen Kane said Tuesday. Kane told the Senate Appropriations Committee that agents from the office’s […]
Read MoreWolf’s budget plan calls for new tax on natural gas industry
State Impact By Marie Cusick Following through on his campaign pledge, Governor Wolf made taxing the natural gas industry a central part of his budget proposal Tuesday. Wolf wants to model it on West Virginia, with a tax on both volume and sales. Drillers would pay a five percent tax on the value of the […]
Read MorePanel: Wolf Can be Effective, Even Without Legislature
Power Source By Michael Sanserino HARRISBURG — There might not be a lot of allies for Gov.-elect Tom Wolf’s energy agenda in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. But there is plenty Mr. Wolf can do to impact the energy industry in the Commonwealth without the help of the legislature, according to a panel of politicians and political […]
Read MoreWolf likely to make shale gas severance tax an early priority
Power Source By Michael Sanserino HARRISBURG — Gov.-elect Tom Wolf will enter office next month facing Republican majorities in the state Senate and House of Representatives that grew as a result of the most recent election. But he should find support for one of his biggest campaign pledges — to impose a severance tax on […]
Read More‘No’ On Keystone Pipeline — But GOP Vows Replay
Power Source WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats blocked a move Tuesday to compel construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, dealing a sharp loss to one of their own, Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, who had pinned her chances for re-election on the measure’s approval. The vote was a victory for environmental activists, who have turned the pipeline’s […]
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