All Environment
- Thailand to end ivory trade?
Thailand's prime minister pledges to put an end to her nation's ivory trade. But she sets no timeline for ending the ivory trade, which is helping boost illegal poaching in Africa.
- US oil production: Don't believe the hype
Oil production is headed back up, but it will peak below the 1970 high in the US or even the secondary high notched in 1985, federal estimates say. It can's solve worldwide oil depletion.
- Why gas prices go up in the spring
Gas prices always seem to 'spring forward' in the spring. Here's what's behind the seasonal rise in gas prices.
- State Department has no major objections to Keystone XL pipeline
The Keystone XL pipeline cleared another hurdle towards approval late Friday as the US Department of State raised no major objections in its latest environmental review. The lengthy report says Canadian tar sands are likely to be developed, regardless of whether the US approves the Keystone XL pipeline.
- Japan should invest in European shale gas
Shale gas is already having an impact as Japan looks to import suddenly plentiful natural gas from the US. Natural gas from shale should force Europe to recalibrate its own energy future.
- Demand weak, but gas prices heading to $4, anyway
Gas prices are moving higher, apparently because of price moves for Brent crude and limited refining capacity. Will Wall Street fall as gas prices rise toward $4 a gallon?
- Canada minister 'cautiously optimistic' US will approve Keystone XL
Canadian Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said Thursday he does not expect the US to veto the proposed Keystone XL pipeline from the Alberta oil sands to Texas.
- Water: the big issue for fracking
Water’s just too important for the fracking business not to handle wisely, Stuebi writes.
- EPA must weigh impacts of regulations, business group says
The Business Roundtable's recommendations to the EPA underscore the need to take action to protect the environment while not harming American jobs and consumers, Tracey writes.
- Using oil to get off of oil
Governments should encourage domestic drilling to meet our energy needs in the short-term, Rapier writes, while using the royalties and tax revenues to fund programs that reduce dependence on oil.
- Oil, gas salaries rise amid slumping economy
Oil and gas wages and benefits saw an overall increase in 2012, according to a recent study. Base salaries across the entire oil and gas industry rose by 8.5 percent in 2012, Alic writes.
- Wait – what is 'fracking'? An energy vocabulary quiz.
The energy world is replete with buzzwords: "fracking," "tar sands," and "the grid." But what do they really mean? Test your energy literacy with the Monitor's energy vocabulary quiz.
- Why globalization is energy intensive and wreaks havoc on oil prices
Globalization uses up finite resources like oil and coal more quickly, Tverberg writes. It also increases carbon dioxide emissions and acts to increase world oil prices, she adds.
- Exclusive: Cyberattack leaves natural gas pipelines vulnerable to sabotage
A government report says a cyberattack against 23 natural gas pipeline operators stole crucial information that could compromise security. Experts strongly suspect China's military.
- How high oil prices hurt wages and limit economic growth
Wages don’t rise at the same time as oil prices rise, Tverberg writes. The result is a mismatch between what citizens can afford, and the cost to manufacture and transport products.
- Is the Keystone XL pipeline worth it?
The Keystone XL pipeline gains new endorsements as environmental opposition grows. Putting ecological implications aside for a moment, is the Keystone XL pipeline, and the tar sands production that goes with it, a good financial investment?
- BP drilling operations face scrutiny in Gulf oil spill trial
Two former BP executives testified Wednesday about the effect of cost-cutting measures on BP's drilling operations before the 2010 oil well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico. It marks the third day of the Gulf oil spill trial designed to figure out how much BP and other companies are to blame for the spill.
- Shell halts Arctic oil drilling in 2013
Royal Dutch Shell PLC announced Wednesday it would suspend drilling for oil in the Arctic Ocean in 2013. Shell has experienced several setbacks this winter in its Arctic oil drilling plans.
- Shell halts Arctic oil drilling in 2013
Royal Dutch Shell PLC announced Wednesday it would suspend drilling for oil in the Arctic Ocean in 2013. Shell has experienced several setbacks this winter in its Arctic oil drilling plans.
- Oil, gas, and the investment sinkhole problem
If we want to “grow” oil and gas production at all, businesses will need to keep investing increasing amounts of money (and energy) into oil and gas extraction, Tverberg writes. For this to happen, prices paid by consumers for oil and gas will need to continue to rise.