GOP Attorneys General Sue Labor Department Over ESG Rule - “GOP senators, joined by Manchin, oppose the new rule, which gives asset managers more freedom.” Why this is important: The article describes reaction to...more
Two new developments of enormous significance passed under the radar last week, buried by the growing threat of an outright Russia/Ukraine war and governmental encroachment on democracy in Canada. These developments, however,...more
On March 8, 2022, the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union announced measures intended to eliminate or reduce their reliance on Russian energy imports. Until now, these countries had largely refrained from...more
On March 8, 2022, President Biden issued Executive Order 14066 which prohibits the following actions: The importation into the United States of any “crude oil; petroleum; petroleum fuels, oils, and products of their...more
On Tuesday, March 8, the White House announced it was further strengthening the sanctions on Russia, with President Biden scheduled to sign an Executive Order (EO) banning U.S. imports of Russian oil, liquefied natural gas...more
If 2020 was the year of the great energy disconnect, 2021 was the year the people carrying out the energy debate appeared to be living on different planets, floating aimlessly through time and space and never intersecting...more
More Federal Permits Handed Down as MVP Presses FERC for Construction Restart - "The Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC told FERC that it has received a series of key federal waterbody crossing permits, bolstering its case to...more
Two United States Senators, Republican Ted Cruz of Texas and Democrat Jean Shaheen of New Hampshire, introduced legislation last week that would place sanctions on any company attempting to finish laying the pipe needed to...more
Industry Expert Insights - We reached out to one of our Lex Mundi partners and a well-known expert in the United Arab Emirates in the energy and legal industries to get his thoughts on the current energy climate. ...more
China Resumes LNG Imports from the U.S. - "Chinese buyers have resumed imports of liquefied natural gas from U.S. exporters, as Beijing started granting waivers to a 25% import tariff." Why this is important: In the...more
Coronavirus Throws EU Climate Plans into Disarray - "Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said last week that the EU should 'forget about' the Green Deal for now while it focuses on Coronavirus." Why this is important: ...more
The Drop in Oil was Perhaps the ‘Final Straw’ for U.S. Credit Markets, Strategist Says - "The credit market is sensitive to moves in oil because a 'very large portion' of high-yield bonds in America are issued by...more
Energy Infrastructure Attacks are ‘Probable’: Oil Traders Fear Supply Disruptions in the Middle East - "A dramatic escalation of geopolitical tensions will most likely result in an unplanned oil supply shortage in the...more
Russian, Colombian Competition Continuing to Slow U.S. Thermal Coal Exports - "'Central Appalachian and Northern Appalachian exports remain out of the money for shipment to Europe and Illinois Basin coal has significant...more
FBI Eyes How Pennsylvania Approved Pipeline - "The FBI has begun a corruption investigation into how Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration came to issue permits for construction on a multibillion-dollar pipeline project to carry...more
Oil Drops More Than 3% After State Secretary Pompeo Says Iran Is Ready To Negotiate About Its Missile Program - "Oil prices turned lower on Tuesday, falling by about $2 a barrel as U.S. President Donald Trump said progress...more
The U.S. is Set to Become the World's Biggest Oil Exporter Thanks to the Fracking Revolution - "The U.S. shale revolution has made it to one of the world's largest energy producers and potentially the largest oil exporter...more
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal Would Reshape the Economy in 10 Years. That Could Shock the Energy Sector. "The concern is that Ocasio-Cortez's plan to achieve climate goals in just 10 years will not only tee up...more
More, Deeper Wells Planned for Existing Marcellus Site in Washington Township - "CNX has applied to the state Department of Environmental Protection for a permit to drill four new wells to tap natural gas from Utica shale...more
2018 began with the United States producing immense amounts of oil and natural gas; pipeline companies struggling to build out the national pipeline system but not being transparent about how they are doing it; Europe, led by...more
The 'Trump Effect' is Slowing International Progress on Climate Change, Think Tank Warns - "The report from the Institute of International and European Affairs ("IIEA") considered the impact President Donald Trump was...more
New York Sues Exxon Mobil, Saying It Deceived Shareholders on Climate Change - "The litigation, which follows more than three years of investigation, represents the most significant legal effort yet to establish that a...more
China Says to Impose 10 Percent Tariff on U.S. LNG from September 24; Keeps U.S. Crude Oil Off List - "China announced retaliatory tariffs on an additional $60 billion worth of U.S. imports that included a 10 percent...more
EPA Chief Looks to Distinguish Himself from Pruitt in Agency-Wide Memo - "The new head of the EPA sent a staff-wide memo laying out steps the agency is taking to increase transparency, a move that's seen as an effort to...more
Russian Hackers Penetrated Networks of U.S. Electric Utilities - "Russian hackers gained access to the networks of U.S. electric utilities last year, which could have allowed them to cause blackouts, according to federal...more