In the States
CO – Governor John Hickenlooper promised to combat ballot measures this fall that are aimed at banning hydraulic fracturing, which according to the Governor, generates more than $30 billion a year for the State’s economy. Commonly known as fracking, hydraulic fracturing is the process by which the flow of oil and gas is improved by creating rock fissures and fractures through the pumping of pressurized water, sand, and chemicals down well bores. The ballot questions will ask voters if local communities should have more control over where drilling occurs and if the State constitution should be amended to restrict wells within 2,000 feet of homes and schools. “These measures risk thousands and thousands of jobs and billions in investment and hundreds of millions of dollars in state tax revenue,” said Governor Hickenlooper. The State is currently ranked sixth in natural gas production and ninth in oil production. Colorado Governor doesn’t have support for fracking bill – Bloomberg and Effort to avoid vote on fracking falters in Colorado – The New York Times
NJ – State officials recently approved a bundle of tax breaks worth $260 million for a nuclear energy company to build several new reactors in the city of Camden. The tax breaks are believed to be the third-largest economic subsidy in State history. The State’s Economic Development Authority awarded the tax credit package to Marlton, New Jersey-based Holtec International. It is estimated that the company will create more than 200 full-time jobs at its future 600,000 square-foot manufacturing plant. Several Republicans and Democrats in the state legislature criticized the move, including State Senator Michael Doherty (R) who called it “crony capitalism” given the State’s dismal economic situation. Joy Russell, a vice president with Holtec, called the move “a great opportunity… we believe it is important for us and others to concentrate on creating well-paying manufacturing jobs in the United States.” N.J. gives $2670 million tax break to energy company with political ties – The New Jersey Star-Ledger
NY – After denying a request from CSX Transportation and Canadian Pacific Railway, State officials announced it will disclose the routes and frequency of trains transporting crude oil from the Bakken formation traveling through New York to refineries on the coast. Other States, including Florida, California, and Montana, already release similar information. Trains carrying the volatile crude, usually in 100 or more tankers, commonly pass through upstate New York. A string of recent train derailment accidents has led to heightened concerns about rail safety across the United States, which in 2013 saw “an estimated 434,000 tanker loads of crude oil shipped by rail.” New York will disclose when, where trains ship oil – The Democrat & Chronicle
WA – Governor Jay Inslee announced more than $14 million in grants to assist the State’s utilities to more efficiently manage and make use of renewable energy, including solar and wind power. The grants from the State’s Clean Energy Fund, according to Governor Inslee, who announced the grants at battery technology facility, will help make Washington State a leader in smart grid and energy storage technology. Three utilities won grants, including Snohomish County PUD, Puget Sound Energy, and Avista Corporation. "Delivering operational value for our utilities is crucial,” said Governor Inslee, “if we're going to successfully develop and deploy clean energy technologies that save energy and reduce energy costs, reduce carbon emissions and increase our energy independence." $14.3M state grant for ‘smart grid’ technology could mean big business for Mukilteo startup – Puget Sound Business Journal
Federal and National
The United State Senate confirmed two of President Barack Obama’s nominees to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), an independent federal agency that regulates and provides oversight of interstate transmission of natural gas, electricity, and oil. Norman Bay, FERC’s enforcement director and a former federal prosecutor, was confirmed on a vote of 52 to 45 following strong disapproval from Republicans and some conservative coal-state Democrats while Cheryl LaFleur, the acting chairwoman of FERC, was confirmed by a vote of 90 to 7. Obama’s FERC nominees confirmed by U.S. Senate – BloombergBusinessweek
According to a new report issued by the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the United States ranks 13th out of 16 major national economies on energy efficiency. The international scorecard examines how the 16 major world economies, which account for 81% of the world’s gross domestic product and 71% of the world’s energy consumption, rank in terms of 31 different energy policy and usage criteria, including energy performance and use in buildings and industry and also fuel-economy standards. Germany was ranked first overall in the report. "The United States, long considered an innovative and competitive world leader, has progressed slowly and has made limited progress since our last report (in 2012), even as Germany, Italy, China, and other nations surge ahead," said ACEEE's executive director Steven Nadel. On energy efficiency, U.S. ranks 13th out of 16 – USA Today