FuelFix: Climate Plan Prompts Look at Energy Transportation Emissions *Op-Ed by David Holt – With the President’s recent release of his Climate Action Plan, and his comments on the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, Consumer Energy Alliance believes it’s appropriate to examine the emissions associated with the transportation of crude oil.  It’s not just the refining and consumption of petroleum products that releases GHG’s. The transportation of oil from one country to another also carries a GHG footprint, as fuel is consumed by oil tankers, trains, trucks and pipelines as they move oil from where it is produced, to where its refined and consumed. 

The Hill: News bites: EPA backing off fracking tests, ANWR plan floated, and more – The Environmental Protection Agency has backed off several studies regarding the impact of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, on groundwater supplies, a development that has environmentalists concerned, according to a ProPublica report.  Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell's (R) administration unveiled an oil-and-gas exploration plan for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), despite Interior Secretary Sally Jewell saying the Obama administration has no plans to look for gas there, The Associated Press reports. 

Politico: New API Keystone ads tout range of backers – The American Petroleum Institute launched a barrage of ads Tuesday touting the widespread support it says the Keystone XL pipeline has received from across the political spectrum.  The Who Supports campaign includes television, print and online ads that began running inside the Beltway on Tuesday. During the August congressional recess, they will be seen in New Mexico, Minnesota, Delaware, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Missouri, Florida and North Carolina.

The Hill: Keystone XL pipeline is in the national interest – In his recent speech on climate at Georgetown University, President Obama provided the clearest insight yet into the factors he’s taking into consideration as he decides the fate of the much-debated Keystone XL pipeline.  “Allowing the Keystone pipeline to be built requires a finding that doing so would be in our nation’s interest,” said the president. “And our national interest will be served only if this project does not significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution.”

The Washington Times: Canadian rail accident bolsters safety argument for Keystone oil pipeline – The deadly derailment and explosion of rail cars carrying crude oil through Quebec last weekend highlighted the dangers of the growing trend of shipping more fuel by rail in the U.S. and Canada, and analysts say it may add to pressure on President Obama to approve the Keystone XL pipeline.  Environmentalists have warned loudly about the dangers of pipelines that might taint groundwater or foul the environment, but such risks pale in comparison with the worst-case accidents that can and do occur if fuel is transported by rail and river barge.

Investor’s Business Daily: Canada Train Wreck Shows Need For Keystone Pipeline – An oil-laden train not unlike those rolling down American tracks derailed and exploded Saturday in a Canadian town, proving why pipelines are safer and environmentalist opposition to a pipeline from Canada is misguided.  At least 13 people were reported dead and 37 missing in the charred Quebec town of Lac-Megantic, 130 miles east of Montreal, after the accident created an inferno of burning crude. Some may never be found, likely vaporized by the sheer intensity of the blaze that burned for 36 hours.

Lincoln Journal Star: York board tables action against Keystone XL pipeline – York County commissioners stopped short on Tuesday of passing a resolution sought by opponents of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline.  A 3-1 vote sidetracked action on language offered by a group called the Good Life Alliance that would have put the board on record as against the pipeline and committed to protecting the health and welfare of residents.  

The Star: Keystone XL won't benefit from train disaster, TransCanada CEO says – The train disaster in Quebec may have restarted the pipeline versus rail debate, when it comes to shipping crude oil, but the top official behind the proposed Keystone XL project warns there’s no spinoff benefit.  TransCanada’s chief executive officer Russ Girling said Tuesday at a conference in Calgary that there’s “no good news here for anybody,” and the argument that the pipeline industry will somehow benefit from the tragedy makes no sense.  

The Hill: Interior's offshore drilling safety chief stepping down – The head of the Interior Department branch that regulates offshore oil and gas drilling safety is stepping down, the department said.  James Watson, a former Coast Guard admiral who The Hill profiled here, has headed the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) since late 2011.

Fuel Fix: Alaska pushing new plan for ANWR oil research – Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell on Tuesday escalated his fight with the Obama administration over potential oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, by formally submitting a plan to conduct seismic research in the region.  The formal, 240-page application seeks approval to conduct 3D seismic surveys in winter 2014, with the goal of better documenting the oil and gas potential of the refuge’s 1.5-million-acre coastal plain. 

Alaska Native News: Parnell Submits Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Exploration Plan – It was announced on Tuesday by Alaska's Governor Sean Parnell that the state wass officially submitting a seismic exploration plan for the 1002 area of the Arctic Wildlife Refuge pursuant to section 1002(e) of ANILCA.  “The 1002 Area of ANWR holds enormous promise for Alaska and for our nation,” Governor Parnell said. “Federal law provides clear direction and mandates a number of actions that the Interior Secretary must take upon the submission of a 1002 Area exploration plan. We look forward to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell’s prompt review and approval of this exploration plan.” 

Wall Street Journal: Alaska Unveils New Plan to Explore for Oil in Wilderness Area – Alaska officials unveiled a new oil exploration proposal Tuesday for the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, an area estimated to hold significant oil reserves that is also home to polar bears, caribou and other wildlife.  Alaska officials and some federal lawmakers have periodically pursued federal approval to explore and drill for oil and natural gas in the wildlife area, arguing that if the area has rich oil reserves, the nation should consider producing hydrocarbons there. Democratic lawmakers and environmental groups have opposed such efforts, arguing that the area is a crucial habitat for wildlife that could be harmed if oil drilling were allowed. 

Wall Street Journal: OPEC Doubts if Oil Supply Will Keep Up With Growing Demand – OPEC said that global oil demand growth will accelerate next year, rising by about 1 million barrels a day, and expressed doubts about whether expected increases in supply will keep pace. 

Washington Post: Oil nears $106 a barrel on report US crude supplies fell far more than expected last week – The price of oil rose 2 percent Wednesday as the U.S. government reported another steep decline in the nation’s supplies of oil and gasoline.  By late morning, benchmark crude for August delivery was up $2.24, or 2.2 percent, to $105.77 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. 

ProPublica: EPA’s Abandoned Wyoming Fracking Study One Retreat of Many – When the Environmental Protection Agency abruptly retreated on its multimillion-dollar investigation into water contamination in a central Wyoming natural gas field last month, it shocked environmentalists and energy industry supporters alike.  In 2011, the agency had issued a blockbuster draft report saying that the controversial practice of fracking was to blame for the pollution of an aquifer deep below the town of Pavillion, Wy. – the first time such a claim had been based on a scientific analysis. 

Fuel Fix: Crude by rail gets a boost in the Permian Basin – Developers of San Antonio’s Mission Rail Park, which will serve the Eagle Ford Shale, said Tuesday they are starting construction on a rail park in West Texas.  The Permian Rail Park, located between Big Spring and Midland, will be in the heart of the Wolfcamp and Cline Shale plays.  Developer Kyle Kinsel said the rail park, scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2014, will be the only major rail location on the eastern side of the Permian Basin.  

Houston Chronicle: Private company plans Ohio electric plant – A private company says a planned $800 million electric power plant in eastern Ohio will be powered by natural gas from shale drilling.  The Akron Beacon Journal (http://bit.ly/12h8zVZ ) reports that Carroll County Energy plans to build the 700-megawatt plant on 77 acres near Carrollton, southeast of Canton.  The company said it will be powered with the natural gas being extracted from Utica shale in Ohio by the process of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. 

Businessweek: North Dakota Oil Transport Risk Revealed in Quebec Blast – On a typical day in North Dakota prairie towns like Williston, Dickinson and Beulah, trains with 100 tank cars line up to be loaded with oil destined for markets to the east, west, and south.  In total, about 675,000 barrels of crude leave daily on as many as 10 trains from North Dakota, now the second largest oil-producing state after Texas. That’s due to the drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, that has rendered accessible petroleum once too costly to procure.

Cleveland Plain Dealer: FirstEnergy to close more coal-fired power plants – FirstEnergy Corp. is planning to close two additional coal-fired power plants rather than clean them up to meet federal mercury emission standards in the face of continued low demand that is expected to depress power prices.  The company announced today that it expects to close Hatfield's Ferry Power Station in Masontown, Pa. and Mitchell Power Station in Courtney, Pa. by Oct. 9.  The move will eliminate the jobs of 380 employees. 

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Legislation to speed up gas pipeline permitting moving in U.S. House – A House panel is considering legislation aimed at speeding up federal approval of permits for natural gas pipelines, an effort to help the burgeoning industry increase distribution and to reduce utility costs for consumers.  The House Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to take up the legislation this afternoon during a bill mark-up session. 

KRIS TV 6 News: Truck Driver Training Drawing in Dozens – The Eagle Ford Shale is pumping big money into the local economy and creating a boom in jobs. One industry in particular, is in high demand for truck drivers and the Del Mar College Transportation Service has a fairly long waiting list for that program.  President of Del Mar College, Mark Escamilla says the wait list has gone from 90 days to 30.  The big rig driving program will get trainees a license to drive an 18-wheeler in about a month. President Escamilla assures drivers planning to train that there will be plenty of jobs available at the end of the course.  

WESA 90.5: Corbett Signs Controversial Bill Giving Drillers Power To Pool Leases – Governor Corbett signed a controversial bill into law today, giving drillers the power to combine or “pool” leases for horizontal oil and gas drilling.  The legislation was originally promoted as an effort to bring more transparency to the deductions companies take out of royalty payments. Complaints over those deductions lead to a recent Senate hearing on the issue. 

FuelFix: Gulf platform evacuated after leak from decades-old well – Five workers evacuated a platform in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday evening when gas condensate began escaping from a Talos Energy well. The decades-old well south of Louisiana has been inactive for 15 years. Workers were conducting operations to plug and permanently abandon it when saltwater containing a small amount of gas and light condensate began to flow from the well, said Talos Energy president Timothy Duncan.