Agreement paves way for Enbridge to permanently shut down, replace Line 5 in Straits of Mackinac

Accord between the state and company requires Enbridge to pay all costs for a multi-use tunnel beneath the Straits, compels safety improvements on other water crossings LANSING, Mich. The state of Michigan and Enbridge Energy today announced an agreement that will lead to major safety enhancements along the entire length of the Line 5 petroleum pipeline crossing the state, permanently shut down the current segment that crosses the Straits of Mackinac, and construct a multi-use utility tunnel beneath the Straits.

American Petroleum INSTITUTEBill Koetzle Joins Api as Vice President of Federal Affairs

API today announced the addition of a Vice President of Federal Affairs, Bill Koetzle, whose experience on legislative, regulatory and policy issues in the energy sector will deepen the bench of experience and talent the organization has added in recent months. Koetzle comes to API from the Chevron Corporation, where he served as Manager of Federal Government Affairs, leading advocacy for the company in Congress, the Administration and federal agencies on priority issues for Chevron.

Keystone XL to start construction in 2019

The developer of the Keystone XL oil pipeline plans to start construction next year, after a U.S. State Department review ordered by a federal judge concluded major environmental damage from a leak is unlikely and could quickly be mitigated, a company spokesman said Monday. TransCanada spokesman Matthew John said the company remains committed to moving ahead with the project following years of reviews from federal and state regulators.

Keystone XL developer plans to start construction in 2019

The developer of the Keystone XL oil pipeline plans to start construction next year, after a U.S. State Department review ordered by a federal judge concluded that major environmental damage from a leak is unlikely and could quickly be mitigated, a company spokesman said Monday. TransCanada spokesman Matthew John said the company remains committed to moving ahead with the project following years of reviews from federal and state regulators.

How Fossil Fuels Won (and Lost) a Thirty Years’ War

Thirty years ago this summer, James Hansen, then at NASA, provided landmark testimony to Congress about the links between fossil fuels and climate change. The U.S. was suffering one of its worst droughts ever and Yellowstone National Park was burning.

Jury convicts pipeline company in 2015 spill that put tar balls on South Bay beaches

In this May 21, 2015, file photo, workers prepare an oil containment boom at Refugio State Beach, north of Goleta, Calif. The shutdown of a pipeline that spilled up to 101,000 gallons of crude on the Santa Barbara coast forced Exxon Mobil Corp. to halt operations at three offshore platforms because it couldn't deliver oil to refineries, the company said Tuesday, June 23. A jury has convicted a pipeline company of nine criminal charges, finding it responsible for crude oil washing up on South Bay beaches in record numbers more than three years ago.

Take 2 for Washington state: Carbon fee on fall ballot

Voters in Washington state will be asked this fall to do what state and federal leaders have been reluctant to: charge a direct fee on carbon pollution to fight climate change. If the ballot measure passes, it will be the first direct fee or tax charged on carbon emissions in the U.S. Experts say it will prove states can take action even if the Trump administration doesn't, and nudge other states to follow.

Flashpoint’s Allison Nixon Recognized as – Threat Seeker’ in SC Media Reboot Leadership Awards

Flashpoint, the global leader in Business Risk Intelligence , is honored to announce that Allison Nixon, director of security research, has been named a "Threat Seeker" in the 2018 SC Media Reboot Leadership Awards . The awards, which are an extension of SC Media's Reboot edition, recognizes leaders for their unique contributions that improve security and shape the industry.

Natural gas called ‘best hope’ for West Virginia at…

The incoming president of the Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia doesn't like what is ahead for natural gas prices. "This year's not too bad actually," said Brett Loflin, vice president of the Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia.

GOP sees chance to beef up its power in blue Connecticut

In this Thursday, July 26, 2018 photo, Westport tech entrepreneur and Navy veteran Steve Obsitnik, right, one of five Republicans running for governor, meets with voters in Waterford, Conn., during a campaign event ahead of the Aug. 14 primary. Obsitnik, who was stationed at the U.S. Naval Submarine Base in Groton, said he's been campaigning for a while in eastern Connecticut, where many communities voted for Donald Trump.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is running for U.S. Senate against Democratic …

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is running for U.S. Senate against Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson. Scott's midyear campaign report shows at least $880,000 in contributions from oil, gas and energy executives and employees to his campaign and from the industry to a pro-Scott super PAC.

WesternGeco v. ION Geophysical

It is an act of infringement under U.S. patent law to supply "in or from the United States" certain components of a patented invention with the intent that they "will be combined outside of the United States in a manner that would infringe the patent if such combination occurred within the United States." 35 U.S.C. 271 .

UPDATE 1-US gas pipeline industry wants help beating back green groups

The United States should help the natural gas industry push back against opposition by environmental groups to pipeline projects by adopting new regulations or laws that favor infrastructure, backers of the industry said at a conference this week. Suppliers in the United States, the world's biggest natural gas producer, have had a difficult time in recent years getting shipments to some regions, including fuel-hungry New England, as environmental lawsuits by states, green groups and property owners have tied up pipeline construction.

Interior watchdog reviews Zinke’s ties to Halliburton boss

U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke gestures after a woman interrupted his speech by shouting questions in the auditorium at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, S.D. during the Western Governors Association annual meeting Tuesday, June 26, 2018. less U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke gestures after a woman interrupted his speech by shouting questions in the auditorium at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, S.D. during the Western Governors ... more HELENA, Mont.

Oilfield services provider wins patent damages

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Friday that companies can recover profits lost because of the unauthorized use of their patented technology abroad in a victory for Schlumberger N.V., the world's largest oilfield services provider. The 7-2 decision overturned a lower court's ruling that had enforced limits on applying U.S. patent law overseas and reduced by $93.4 million the damages sum that rival ION Geophysical Corp. had to pay for infringing Schlumberger technology that helps find oil and gas beneath the ocean floor.

Pope Francis To Convene Global Warming Summit At The Vatican

Pope Francis will hold a gathering at the Vatican next week on man-made global warming, focusing on what oil companies and investment firms can do to curtail fossil fuel use and emissions. Major oil companies, including BP, ExxonMobil and Equinor are attending the conference, Axios reported Friday.

Cruz to join listening session with Santa Fe, Sutherland Spring victims

Ten candles, 10 bibles and 10 white roses are representing the 10 deceased in the Santa Fe High School shooting during a candlelight vigil for victims and survivors at Texas First Bank on Friday, May 18, 2018, in Santa Fe. A dozen lawmakers are meeting with almost 40 victims and survivors of Texas mass shootings at the state Capitol Thursday to discuss possible solutions to gun violence.

Trump’s DOJ Asks Court To Toss Out California Climate Crusades Against Exxon

The Department of Justice asked a federal court Thursday to dismiss a pair of lawsuits targeting a slew of oil companies for allegedly contributing to man-made global warming. Oakland and San Francisco sued five energy companies in March for engaging in a nearly decades-long misinformation campaign about the science of climate change.