Energy Forum News
Energy plays key role in Obama's State of the Union
For the third year in a row energy played a central role in President Obama's State of the Union address, with the president leaning hard this year on the twin themes of increased domestic oil and gas production and the need to invest more in renewable sources. 
New Republican weapon on Keystone XL: a map
A map speaks volumes: "The truth of the matter is that there are pipelines all over this country that function each and every day without any environmental impact at all..." according to Congressman Mick Mulvaney (SC-05).
SC Breakfast Makes the Case for Energy Independence
500 business leaders, elected officials and GOP stalwarts attended the South Carolina Energy Forum's breakfast to discuss the "State of American Energy." Speaker's included API president Jack Gerard, US Congressmen, a former ambassador, and more.
TransCanada Pipeline Bill Would Force U.S. Permit Within 60 Days
Senate Republicans introduced a bill that would require the Secretary of State to issue a U.S. permit for the Keystone XL pipeline within 60 days. This still "provides adequate time for Nebraska to shift the route of the pipeline" while allowing construction to begin elsewhere.
Politics delay Keystone XL Pipeline and jobs
I visited Canadas oil sands early on in my service as U.S. ambassador to Canada, and I have been privileged to return several times over the past six years. I remain awed by the ingenuity at work there, from the massive 12-foot-high tires made by Michelin in Lexington County, to the dedication of both the private and public sectors to leaving the smallest environmental footprint possible.
Obama punts Keystone XL pipeline
The State Department on Thursday announced that it's punting a decision on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline until at least the first quarter of 2013. House Speaker John Boehner responded: "More than 20,000 new American jobs have just been sacrificed in the name of political expediency".
New U.S. Offshore Oil Leasing Plan Includes Arctic
The Administration's newly proposed offshore leasing plan draws mixed reviews from leaders, industry and environmental groups.
Experts say wind energy off coast puts Grand Strand in a
According to the Assessment of Offshore Energy, South Carolina ranks 5th among those on the Atlantic Seaboard in terms of wind energy resource. North Carolina, Massachusetts, Maine, and New York are the top four.
Coastal governors push revenue sharing ahead of markup
Six GOP governors from coastal states - Alaska, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Virginia- are making an eleventh-hour appeal to Senate Energy Committee lawmakers to back plans that provide coastal states a significant share of revenues from oil-and-gas development in federal waters off their shores.
Senate Vote on Offshore Drilling-safety Bill Next Week
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will vote next week on legislation aimed at improving offshore drilling safety (i.e. stiffen penalties, strengthen well blowout-prevention standards and increase offshore inspections).
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) said Thursday she would offer an amendment that provides coastal states a significant share of revenues from offshore energy development in federal waters.
Gulf Offshore Could Support 400,000 Jobs
According to a new study, the Gulf offshore oil and gas industry supported more than 240,000 jobs across the country. And "... if exploration and development permitting return to historic levels and backlogged projects are processed, the Gulf offshore industry could help create an additional 190,000 jobs by 2013."
3-state compact for offshore energy in NC bill
North Carolina has the opportunity to join with South Carolina and Virginia to create jobs and revenue by developing offshore energy.
No such thing as 'idle leases'
There are no "idle leases", counter to the Department of Interior study that says 70 percent of federal Gulf of Mexico leases and 57 percent of federal onshore leases "are not producing or not subject to approved or pending exploration or development plans."
Can We Do Without the Mideast?
Imagine a foreign policy version of the movie "Groundhog Day," with Bill Murray playing the president of the United States. The alarm clock rings. Political mayhem is again shaking the Middle East, crude oil and gasoline prices are climbing, and an economic recovery is under threat. Is this what we are facing once again?
TransCanada ensures that extended pipeline review won't increase cost
TransCanada is currently sticking to its $7 billion cost of building the Keystone XL pipeline even though the Administration has delayed its decision - however, that cost may change if the decision is not made by years-end.
OP ED: Sen. Verdin: It's time for us to look inward for energy
Most Americans are glad to see people in countries like Egypt and Libya standing up for themselves and overthrowing the tyrannical despots that have oppressed them for too long. But we are not happy to see what it is doing to gasoline and diesel prices. Maybe this will be the last straw that spurs our government to finally start meeting more of our energy demands with fuel we produce ourselves.
Press Release: Natural Resources Committee Republicans Call for Expanded American Energy Production to Create Jobs, Curb Rising Gasoline Prices
Today, the House Natural Resources Committee held an oversight hearing on how to harness American resources to create jobs and address rising gasoline prices. The Committee heard from several energy experts who discussed America’s vast energy reserves on federal lands.
POLL: Expand drilling to ease energy crisis, voters say
Rising energy prices are prompting support among likely voters for expanding U.S. drilling and releasing oil from the country’s emergency stockpiles, a new poll conducted for The Hill shows.
EDITORIAL: Long-term pump pain
Libyan unrest is fueling a sharp boost in U.S. pump prices. But beyond that immediate cause for concern lies a far more extended -- and ominous -- trend: Oil costs appear likely to keep rising over the coming decades as demand outpaces supply across the planet.
Oil Spill Panel Calls for New Rules and Spending
The President's National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill And Offshore Drilling issued its Final Report today.
