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Archive for January, 2012
Natural Gas From Shale Could Worsen Climate Change
Posted by Essential Public Radio: None Given on January 19th, 2012
Essential Public Radio: Instead of being an answer to climate change, shale gas might actually be a major generator of greenhouse emissions. (Penn State University) Nancy Adams from PSU touches residue leftover from drilling at a Marcellus Shale drilling site.
Instead of being an answer to climate change, shale gas might actually be a major generator of greenhouse emissions.
According to a new study done by three Cornell University researchers, the problem with shale gas is the amount of methane it releases into the...
Keystone Pipeline Becomes Hot-Button Election Issue
Posted by National Public Radio: Jeff Brady on January 19th, 2012
National Public Radio: President Obama rejected an application to build the 1,700-mile Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to the U.S. Gulf Coast on Wednesday. He blamed congressional Republicans, who had set a 60-day deadline for his administration to complete its review of the project.
Just minutes after Obama issued a statement denying the permit, Republican members of Congress lined up before TV cameras.
"I'm deeply, deeply disappointed that our president decided to put his politics above the nation," said Rep....
Marcellus boom threatens climate change action, study says
Posted by Charleston Gazette: Ken Ward Jr. on January 19th, 2012
Charleston Gazette: The boom in drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale and other similar formations will likely suppress the development of alternative energies that are urgently needed to combat global warming, according to a new study by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute for Technology.
Researchers highlighted some positive aspects of the boom in drilling for "shale-gas" reserves, such as help in lowering gas prices and stimulating the economy.
But they warned that a switch from coal to natural...
Posted in Water Conservation 
Comments Off on Marcellus boom threatens climate change action, study saysRepublicans fume as Keystone oil pipeline rejected
Posted by Reuters: Jeff Mason and Jeffrey Jones on January 19th, 2012
Reuters: The Obama Administration rejected the Keystone oil pipeline on Wednesday, a move that Republicans decried for sacrificing jobs and energy security in order to shore up the president's environmental base before elections.
President Barack Obama said the administration denied TransCanada's application for the $7 billion Canada-to-Texas oil sands pipeline because there was not enough time to review an alternate route that would avoid a sensitive aquifer in Nebraska -- within a 60-day window set by...
Keystone: Dead Pipeline Lives On As Election-Year Issue
Posted by National Public Radio: Frank James on January 18th, 2012
National Public Radio: Now that President Obama has made his decision to reject the Keystone XL pipeline, an obvious question is what will it mean for the 2012 presidential election?
Obviously, no one really knows the answer to that though that won't stop weeks if not months of speculation.
The key to Keystone is, which side will have the most success in framing its case to enough voters for it to make a difference?
The president is clearly hoping he can persuade voters that Republicans made him do it, that they...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Keystone: Dead Pipeline Lives On As Election-Year IssueKeystone XL oil pipeline rejected
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 18th, 2012
BBC: The US state department has formally recommended the rejection of a controversial crude oil pipeline.
The state department denied a permit for the 1,600-mile (2,700km) Keystone XL pipeline, saying it had insufficient time to review the plans.
The Canada-Texas project has been delayed amid objections by the state of Nebraska and environmental groups.
At the end of 2011, Republicans forced a final decision on the plan within 60 days during a legislative standoff.
US President Barack Obama...
Obama rejects Keystone pipeline, but leaves door open for tar sands
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 18th, 2012
Mongabay: The Obama administration today announced it is scrapping TransCanada's Keystone pipeline after Republicans forced a 60-day deadline on the issue in a Congressional rider. The State Department advised against the pipeline arguing that the deadline did not give the department enough time to determine if the pipeline "served the national interest." The cancellation of the pipeline is a victory for environmental and social activists who fought the project for months, but Republicans are blasting the...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Obama rejects Keystone pipeline, but leaves door open for tar sandsDecision by Obama Won’t Keep Oil from Flowing
Posted by Climate Central: Bill Walker on January 18th, 2012
Climate Central: Today's decision by President Obama to reject, at least temporarily, the permit to build the Keystone XL pipeline -- which would carry the most climate-wrecking crude oil on Earth from Canada's tar sands to refineries on the Texas Gulf Coast -- is unquestionably good news. But by itself it won't stop tar sands oil from flowing, or even keep it out of the United States.
This is not yet the death knell for the pipeline. Initial reports say TransCanada Pipelines may be allowed to reapply after a...
Keystone XL pipeline: Obama rejects controversial project
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 18th, 2012
Guardian: Barack Obama rejected the controversial Keystone tar sands pipeline on Wednesday, making good on a promise not to give in to a Republican ultimatum on the project.
The announcement from the state department – which was expected – was hailed by environmentalists as a victory.
But it sets up an election-year confrontation over the pipeline, which was to carry carbon-heavy crude from the tar sands of Alberta across the American heartland to refineries on the Texas coast.
However, TransCanada,...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Keystone XL pipeline: Obama rejects controversial projectNew pipeline study would take minimum 12-18 months
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 18th, 2012
Reuters: The Obama administration could save time in evaluating any new Canada-to-Texas crude oil pipeline if it hewed closely to the Keystone XL proposal, but any assessment would take at least 12-18 months, a U.S. official told Reuters on Wednesday. The Obama administration on Wednesday rejected the Keystone XL Canada-to-Texas crude oil pipeline project, a decision welcomed by environmental groups but blasted by the domestic energy industry and congressional Republicans. U.S. President Barack Obama said...