Energy Interdependency Blog
U.S. Senate
Electric Grid Reliability and Resiliency in the Spotlight with DOE Pricing NOPR & More
Pushing through a record hurricane season has tested the resiliency of the human spirit, as well as that of the energy infrastructure we so heavily rely upon. In the last month, we have seen efforts on multiple fronts with a focus on ensuring the reliability and resiliency of the nation’s electric grid. In mid-September, the … Continue reading
Energy Industry Target of Cyber-Attacks and Congressional Efforts to Bolster Security
Cybersecurity of the electric power grid and energy sector as a whole has been the subject of heightened Congressional attention given the integral role the industry plays in our economy. According to a 2015 U.S. Senate committee report, nearly one-third of reported cyber-attacks involve the energy sector. Not surprisingly, the 114th Congress (2015-2016) has introduced … Continue reading
U.S. House Casts Bi-Partisan Vote to Lift Restrictions on Export of U.S. Crude Oil
Legislative efforts to lift restrictions on the export of U.S. crude oil continue to progress, but are expected to meet with staunch Presidential opposition. On October 9, 2015, the full U.S. House of Representatives considered and decided in a 261/159 bipartisan vote to pass H.R. 702 – To adapt to changing crude oil market conditions, … Continue reading
Legislation Allowing the Export of U.S. Crude Oil Advances in Congress, EIA Report Lauded as Support
Modification of the U.S. policy restricting exports of domestic crude oil has been at the forefront of energy policy discussion due to the country’s recent emergence as a leader in oil and natural gas production. Committees of both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House have initiated and passed legislation seeking to lift the longstanding restrictions … Continue reading
Recent Crude Oil Train Derailments Intensify the Spotlight on Rail Safety and the Value of Oil Pipelines
Few of us can erase from our memories the imagery of fires blazing at the scenes of crude oil train derailments in West Virginia in early February and in Illinois earlier this month. The fact that these trains carrying Bakken crude oil from North Dakota derailed in the midst of the intense standoff between Congress and the … Continue reading
Exploring the Impact of Lower Oil Prices on the U.S. – Exports, Economics, Energy Security & Diplomacy
Rapidly changing global energy dynamics, particularly the dramatic decline in crude oil prices, have left many struggling to predict what the fall out will be – on energy prices, American energy companies and workers, and nations heavily dependent upon oil exports. Despite falling oil prices, U.S. crude oil production is currently on the rise. The … Continue reading
The Keystone Pipeline Cleared Hurdles in Congress, But Was Tripped Up by Presidential Veto
This new year has been marked with a flurry of activity surrounding the approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline project. Following the changing of the guard in a new Republican-led Congress, Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski led the Congressional charge for legislative approval of the pipeline project as Chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources … Continue reading
Prompted by Congress, FERC Will Hold Technical Conferences to Examine EPA’s Clean Power Plan
We recently discussed the November letter request sent by Congressional energy committee leaders to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) questioning the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) collaboration, or lack thereof, with FERC in developing the Clean Power Plan. The letter also requested that FERC hold technical conferences to explore relevant stakeholder positions regarding the Clean … Continue reading
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