Oil & Energy News
Reports on oil drilling, pipelines, and energy policy debates. Conservative analysis and commentary included from The Daily Signal.
-
- Opinion
Costly Renewable Energy Regulations Prevent Our Military From Doing Its Job
The Obama administration is aggressively defending costly renewable energy initiatives for the Department of Defense. By forcing its political agenda onto the military, the Obama administration prioritizes inefficient renewable energy initiatives at the expense of U.S. military strength and taxpayers. These requirements mandate that the Department of Defense produce or procure “not less than 25…Rachel Zissimos -
- Opinion
Why the Left Is Wrong to Demonize Affordable Energy
Innovation is a wonderful thing but can also serve as a reminder of just how good we have it. Take the journey of the solar-powered plane, for example. The Solar Impulse 2 is an airplane powered by solar panels and uses batteries at night. In promotion of weaning the world off natural resources like oil…Nicolas Loris -
- Opinion
Energy Bill Embodies Washington’s Backwards Thinking on Energy Policy
The Senate will soon vote on a bipartisan energy bill. Introduced by Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Ark., and Marie Cantwell, D-Wash., the Energy Modernization Act illustrates the wrong approach Washington takes when it comes to energy policy. Proponents claim that the bill is non-controversial. But for those concerned about government interference in the energy sector, the…Nicolas Loris -
- News
Why This Governor Opposes a Bipartisan Bill to Subsidize Solar Energy
Maine Gov. Paul LePage is fighting a bipartisan proposal designed to boost solar power development in the state by a factor of 12, arguing that it would benefit only the wealthy. At a business expo Thursday in central Maine, LePage, a Republican, warned that the solar power bill would increase electricity costs to 22 cents per kilowatt-hour. “If…Natalie Johnson -
- Opinion
The Bizarre Reality of Venezuela’s Energy Crisis
Venezuela is facing an electricity shortage so severe that President Nicolas Maduro extended the national Easter holiday by decree to decrease demand for it. The government is effectively shutting down the country for five days with the hopes of staving off an impending infrastructural collapse. That’s right: The country with the largest proven oil reserves in…Ricardo Pita -
- News
What the Defeat of a Wind Energy Project Means for Harry Reid’s Hometown
Grassroots conservationists and property rights activists in Nevada stand poised to secure an unprecedented legal victory over government-backed wind energy proponents that could reverberate across state lines. If they prevail, they will have handed a rare defeat to the U.S. Senate’s top Democrat, Harry Reid, in his hometown. A federal District Court judge ruled against…Kevin Mooney -
- Opinion
The Green Energy Goal That Is Condemning Many to Prolonged Poverty
Poverty and energy poverty go hand in hand. It is estimated that three billion people still rely on solid fuel (firewood, cornstalks, etc.) for cooking, which, according to the World Health Organization, causes four million deaths per year from the indoor air pollution. Poverty and energy poverty go hand in hand. But instead of promoting electricity…David Kreutzer -
- Opinion
Lifting the Crude Oil Ban Shows America Is Open for Business
The first shipment of American crude oil has reached European markets. This comes only a month after Congress took a big step toward a more sensible energy policy by terminating the crude oil export ban. The crude oil export ban, an antiquated and misguided regulation that dated back four decades, had tied the hands of oil…Katie Tubb -
- Opinion
The Conservative Case Against Energy Subsidies
It’s hard to take seriously an article with a contradictory title such as “The Conservative Case for Solar Subsidies.” The words “subsidies” and “conservative” do not belong in the same sentence together The words “subsidies” and “conservative” do not belong in the same sentence together when discussing energy policy, unless “eliminate” is in the mix….Nicolas Loris -
- Opinion
Foiled New Year’s Terror Attack Is 76th Islamist Plot in US Since 9/11
Emanuel Lutchman was arrested Dec. 30 for his support of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and his planned attack New Year’s Eve in Rochester, N.Y. Authorities said Lutchman, a resident of Rochester, planned to attack a local restaurant/bar armed only with a machete, knives, and supplies to take hostages. This marks the…Riley Walters -
- Opinion
5 Reasons Why We Shouldn’t Keep Subsidizing Wind And Solar Energy
Proponents of energy subsides argue that they are necessary for any number of reasons, such as business certainty, to stimulate the economy, to preserve jobs, to combat global warming, to compete internationally, and the like. But in the long run, subsidies actually hurt the very industries they’re supposed to help by disincentivizing innovation and making…Katie Tubb -
- Opinion
Ending the Crude Oil Ban Already Has Bipartisan Support. GOP Doesn’t Need to Fight for It in Spending Debate.
It’s deal-making time in Washington, and as end-of-the-year funding deadlines approach, lawmakers are scrambling to make sure their priorities and pet projects are funded. Policy riders—or statutory language that essentially puts policy parameters around the money Congress intends to spend—have long been an important part of the congressional spending process. A well-known rider, for example,…Rachel Bovard -
- Opinion
Repealing These Two Regulations Could Save You 31 Cents per Gallon of Gas
The repeal of two costly federal restrictions would lower the price of gas by 31 cents a gallon and save a typical American family $247 per year. One of the restrictions is the ethanol mandate. Officially known as the “Renewable Fuel Standard,” it requires that massive amounts of corn be processed into ethanol, which is…Salim Furth -
- News
Another Government-Backed Renewable Energy Giant Is Looking Unstable
The ripple effects of the financially troubled Spain-based renewable energy giant Abengoa just slammed into its biofuel plants in the United States. Whether it’s a short-term setback or a signal of problems that run much deeper for the industry remains to be seen as Abengoa fights off the prospect of bankruptcy. According to reports in…Rob Nikolewski -
- Opinion
It’s Time to Lift the Ban on Exporting Crude Oil
The House of Representatives recently voted to the lift a decades-long ban on exporting crude oil. Bipartisan legislation introduced in the Senate would do the same. Lifting the ban would generate more jobs for Americans, supply the United States and the world with more affordable energy, and provide important geopolitical benefits for Washington and its…Nicolas Loris -
- Opinion
Report: New EPA Rules Could Raise Energy Prices in 47 States
Critics of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan say the new regulation will cost up to $292 billion and potentially raise electricity prices in 47 states. “States should be braced to pay higher costs,” said Laura Sheehan, senior vice president for communications for the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity. “Consumers only lose in the Clean…Rob Nikolewski -
- Opinion
Why Democrats Are Wrong to Use the Crude Oil Export Ban as a Bargaining Tactic
The House Energy and Commerce Committee has passed a bill to lift America’s decades-long ban on crude oil. Three Democrats joined all of the Republicans in passing the bill out of committee, 31-19. The bill now goes to the full House for passage. The White House opposes the bill, with spokesman Josh Earnest saying: This…Nicolas Loris -
- News
Lowest Gas Prices for Labor Day Weekend in 11 Years
Good news for those loading up the Tahoe to get out of town this Labor Day weekend: Gas prices are at a record low. The national average for gasoline prices dropped to $2.44 on Thursday, according to gas-pricing site GasBuddy.com. Friday’s national average sits at $2.42 per gallon. This marks the lowest price at the…Leah Jessen -
- Opinion
Three Things Americans Should Know About the Stock Market Turmoil
It’s too early to know if the stock market drop is just one of the periodic corrections by which the market reallocates capital to more profitable uses, or the start of a more dramatic contraction signaling a long-term decline. In any case, if the roller coaster ride of the last few days goes on much…Terry Miller -
- Opinion
Why Wind Energy Is Not Going to Meet All Our Energy Needs
The Department of Energy released its annual Wind Technologies Market Report last week, and the headline is roughly the same as years past: wind is great…and getting greater, but it needs more federal subsidies. In fact, the Department of Energy and the wind industry have all but acknowledged the long-term un-competitiveness of wind. The DOE’s…Katie Tubb