The New Cold War: Risk, Sanctions, Compliance Episode 22: "Focus on Iran: Protests, Sanctions and Oil"
Now less than one month before Election Day, the New York Governor's race is far closer than most had anticipated. Incumbent Democrat Kathy Hochul, who succeeded Andrew Cuomo following his resignation, is being pressed by...more
During a press briefing on Friday afternoon, State Department spokesman Ned Price abruptly changed the subject from the disastrous pullout in Afghanistan to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. A Russian ship, the Ostap Sheremeta,...more
On February 3, German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier proclaimed that Germany had exceeded its target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40% compared to 1990 levels. Despite clearly being aided by the deep economic slump...more
President Biden’s first move on energy internationally likely will be one of his most unfortunate actions - rejoining the Paris Climate Accords. Unfortunately, he will have no choice, since he has consistently pledged to do...more
Climate Change Litigation on the Horizon with Trump Environmental Overhaul - On July 16, 2020, President Trump’s Council on Environmental Quality (“CEQ”) published the long-awaited final rule revising the implementing...more
Big Oil repeatedly remanded to state courts - will SCOTUS come to the rescue? "Oil companies facing suits by state and local governments that want them to bear a share of the cost of responding to the consequences of...more
The White House will again slap tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Argentina and Brazil in an apparent reaction to “massive devaluation” of currencies in both South American nations....more
The U.S. oil and gas industry has witnessed significant transformations over the last year, and 2019 should see even more transformative changes....more
U.S. Global Change Research Program - Fourth National Climate Assessment - "Impacts, risks and adaptation in the United States Report-in-Brief" Why this is important: The assessment posits the U.S. will lose 10 percent of...more
The U.S. Supreme Court Slows Children's Climate Lawsuit - For Now - "In the latest step of a fascinating bit of constitutional law called Atmospheric Trust Litigation, the Chief Justice halted the District Court trial...more
Iran's Latest Terrorist Attack Matters More than OPEC's Latest Meeting, RBC's Croft Says - "Oil market attention was focused on an OPEC meeting in Algeria this weekend, but it was Saturday's terrorist attack in an oil-rich...more
LyondellBasell Looking to Control Braskem; Could Help WV Cracker - "A deal could breathe life into the ethane cracker Braskem proposed for a site near Parkersburg, W.Va., roughly five years ago." Why this is important:...more
In an Internal Memo, the White House Considered Whether to Simply 'Ignore' Federal Climate Research - "The document, drafted September 18 by Michael Catanzaro, President Trump's special assistant for domestic energy and...more
FERC Won't Consider Big Climate Change Effects in Pipeline Reviews - "FERC's three Republican commissioners issued the surprise ruling as part of an otherwise routine decision on a pipeline upgrade proposed by the utility...more
Coal - Rio exits coal industry in $4B worth of deals - Rio Tinto Group has agreed to several deals worth over $4 billion to sell all of its remaining coal assets, with a $1.7 billion cash sale of coal assets to...more
California's Ready to Retaliate if Trump Cuts Auto Rules, Sources Say - "As the Trump administration begins to dismantle Barack Obama's ambitious auto efficiency regulations, California is said to be poised to retaliate...more
Trump Advisers Fervently Defend Tariffs (Unless They Change, That Is) - "The White House continued to sow uncertainty about the stiff tariffs President Trump said he would impose on steel and aluminum imports as key...more
Anti-Secrecy Lawsuits Soaring Against Pruitt's EPA - "The suits have come from open government groups, environmentalists and even conservative organizations that have run into a wall trying to pry information out of...more
Ohio Supreme Court Joins Texas and Oklahoma in Holding the State Does Not Recognize a Separate Implied Covenant to Explore Further - "We conclude that Ohio does not recognize an 'implied covenant to explore further'...more
Trump Delivers a Mixed Message on His National Security Approach - "In another shift from his predecessor, Mr. Trump's strategy does not recognize the changing climate as a threat to national security. The document instead...more
WV DEP Waives Clean Water Act Authority Over Atlantic Coast Pipeline - "The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection waived the state's authority under the federal Clean Water Act to determine if another major...more
EPA Hosts Public Hearing in Charleston on Clean Power Plan - "Those who favored repeal cited coal jobs and economic concerns, saying they fear if the plan were implemented, it would negatively affect coal jobs and along...more
Wheeling Resident David Zatezalo Confirmed to Lead MSHA - "In a strict party-line vote, the U.S. Senate confirmed Wheeling resident David Zatezalo to lead the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration. The vote to...more
Department of Interior Rescinds OSM Enforcement Policies - On October 12, 2017, the Department of the Interior ("DOI") withdrew two prior Office of Surface Mining ("OSM") policies affecting mining operations. DOI rescinded...more