Oil & Energy News
Reports on oil drilling, pipelines, and energy policy debates. Conservative analysis and commentary included from The Daily Signal.
-
- News
The Hard Facts Behind Venezuela’s Oil Crisis
The citizens of Venezuela have gotten used to spending days parked in mile-long lines for state-owned gasoline as shortages worsened for the nation, which holds the largest oil reserves in the world. In the capital of Caracas, hundreds of motorists waited in lines last month while carrying rocks and pipes to defend themselves as Venezuela’s…Kaylee Greenlee -
- Opinion
Hidden Costs of Energy Mandates
There is nothing environmentally conscientious about prematurely shutting down sound infrastructure that provides clean, low-cost, reliable electricity. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what state renewable energy mandates, federal energy subsidies, and policies like the Green New Deal would do to accommodate politically preferred renewable energy technologies. A new report from the Institute for Energy Research gives Americans…Katie Tubb -
- News
US Reliance on OPEC Oil Hits 30-Year Low
U.S. crude oil imports from the Saudi Arabian-led OPEC fell to a 30-year low, according to the latest federal figures. OPEC imports fell to 1.5 million barrels per day in March, which is the lowest level since March 1986, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported Thursday. The Energy Information Administration said OPEC imports fell “as domestic…Michael Bastasch -
- Opinion
What Drives Gas Prices Up, and How We Can Steer Them Down
As Memorial Day kicks off the summer season, hotdogs, cold beers, and pool openings aren’t the only things on the minds of Americans. AAA expects a record 37.6 million Americans to hit the road and drive more than 50 miles for the long weekend, which means gas prices are also on their minds. Nationally, gas…Nicolas Loris -
- News
Democrats Back Bill to Ban Sale of Gas-Powered Cars by 2040
Democrats will introduce legislation to mandate zero-emissions vehicles make up all new car sales by 2040. The bill is co-sponsored by three Democrats running for president in 2020 who support the Green New Deal. The internal combustion engine has long been a target for environmentalists. Democrats will introduce legislation to completely phase out the use…Michael Bastasch -
- News
Over 100 House Democrats Demand Extending Billions Worth of Green Energy Subsidies
More than 100 House Democrats are demanding legislation to extend billions of dollars worth of green tax subsidies to counteract the Trump administration’s energy agenda and to “prepare” the U.S. for global warming. Democrats called for extending tax subsidies for green technologies—including wind turbines, solar panels, electric cars, energy efficiency, biofuels, and energy storage—in a…Michael Bastasch -
- Opinion
3 Takeaways From Trump’s Energy Budget Proposal
We can’t ignore the numbers when talking about the federal budget. Twenty-two trillion dollars in the hole is a scary place to be, and President Donald Trump’s budget proposes some good steps toward climbing up and out. But when we’re talking about the Department of Energy’s budget, there’s a lot more to be said. Congress…Katie Tubb -
- Opinion
Parents Embroiled in College Scam Gave Democrats Twice as Much as Republicans
When the college admissions scandal first broke, we opined that this was most likely just the tip of the iceberg and that there was much more to come. We were right. In the little more than a week since the indictments, during which several civil lawsuits were filed against the universities by former applicants, we…Cully Stimson -
- News
Ocasio-Cortez Blames Pipeline That Hasn’t Been Built Yet for an Oil Spill
Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez blamed the Keystone XL pipeline for leaking about 5,000 barrels of oil in rural South Dakota about two years ago. There’s just one problem: The Keystone XL pipeline has not been built yet. During a House hearing Tuesday, Ocasio-Cortez claimed that “Keystone XL, in particular, had one leak that…Michael Bastasch -
- Opinion
Congress Should Keep Its Promise to End Energy Subsidies
As Americans work to file their taxes, Congress is setting to work on a package of expired tax credits this spring to enrich a few energy technologies at the expense of federal taxpayers. Sens. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., of the Senate Finance Committee last week introduced a bill that would retroactively renew…Katie Tubb -
- News
‘Terrible Idea’: Michigan’s Democratic Governor Pushes an Enormous Gas Tax Increase
Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is proposing what some opponents are calling a draconian gas tax increase to fix the state’s crumbling road infrastructure. Whitmer’s budget proposal will include a 45-cent gas tax increase, which would be phased in over three separate intervals, the governor’s spokeswoman Tiffany Brown told reporters Monday. The rate would begin increasing in October,…Chris White -
- News
New EPA Chief Implementing Trump’s Energy-Dominant, Environmentally Friendly Agenda
Andrew Wheeler was confirmed by the Senate last week as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Wheeler previously served as deputy administrator before stepping into the role of acting administrator in July 2018. He visited the Conservative Political Action Conference last week and spoke to The Daily Signal. A lightly edited transcript is below. Rob…Rob Bluey -
- Opinion
America’s Christmas Gift to the World: More Energy Freedom
Over the past few months, Energy Secretary Rick Perry has been delivering an important message to our country’s allies: America’s energy renaissance is your gift, too. As Perry said at the beginning of the year, “The United States is not just exporting energy, we’re exporting freedom.” Now, he’s delivering that message in person. Perry has…Katie Tubb -
- Opinion
Climate Change Alarmism Is the World’s Leading Cause of Hot Gas
Even as anti-gas tax riots raged in France this week, naturalist David Attenborough warned a crowd at a United Nations climate change summit in Poland that “the collapse of our civilizations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon.” U.N. General Assembly President Maria Espinosa told the media that “mankind”…David Harsanyi -
- Opinion
In France and the US, a Tale of 2 Energy Policies
When it comes to the energy and climate policies of the United States and France, there’s a clear fork in the road. If the past few weeks were any indication, families would rather take the path that avoids expensive, ineffective climate policies. The Trump EPA is leading America down that path marked by energy abundance…Kay C. James -
- Opinion
Green Energy Mandates Could Double Your Electric Bills
Business and homeowner utility costs could double in many states if environmental groups succeed in enacting draconian solar and wind power mandates in states across the country. Yet these mandates will have almost no impact in cleaning the air or reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In Arizona and Nevada, voters will decide on Nov. 6 whether…Stephen Moore -
- News
Denmark Wants to Ban Gas-Powered Cars, Even Hybrids
Denmark is presenting a proposal to the country’s parliament later in October that would ban the sale of all gas-powered cars, including hybrids, by 2035, Reuters reports. Denmark’s government is presenting the plan as a way to curb vehicle pollution and combat climate change. The plan will be implemented incrementally, banning the sale of gas- and diesel-powered…Tim Pearce -
- News
Ratepayers Get Cold Shoulder as Green Energy Gets ‘Preferential Treatment’ in Delaware
Delaware residents are the victims of deceptive business practices associated with a green energy scheme resulting from elected officials’ sweetheart deal with a fuel cell company, policy analysts and academics argue. Bloom Energy had pledged to create 900 full-time jobs in Delaware by Sept. 30, 2016, and to continue employing these workers for at least…Kevin Mooney -
- Opinion
Iran’s Saber Rattling on Persian Gulf Likely to Rattle World Oil Markets
The commander of the navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Gen. Alireza Tangsiri, warned on Monday that Iran maintained control of the Persian Gulf and that the U.S. Navy did not belong there. Tangsiri said Iran had full control of the gulf, as well as of the Strait of Hormuz, which leads into it. “We can…James Phillips -
- Opinion
How to Keep the US Natural Gas Boon Going
America is becoming a major liquefied natural gas exporter. According to the latest statistics, the U.S. liquefied natural gas exports quadrupled from 0.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day in 2016 to 1.94 billion in 2017. Of U.S. liquefied natural gas exports last year, 53 percent went to Mexico, South Korea, and China, with…Anthony B. Kim