Archive for July, 2015

TransAlta buys renewable assets, offsets coal-fired generation

TransAlta buys renewable assets, offsets coal-fired generation

Coal-based TransAlta makes first acquisition of renewable energy generating TransAlta Corp. (TSX:TA) has signed a deal to buy 71 megawatts of solar and wind power generation capacity in the U.S. in a deal worth US$75.8 million. The assets acquired from an affiliate of Rockland Capital LLC include 21 MW of solar projects in Massachusetts and […]

Salt caverns for storing natural gas increasing along Gulf Coast

Salt caverns for storing natural gas increasing along Gulf Coast

More salt caverns needed as gas used for power generation Natural gas is stored underground so it’s available when needed, mostly for heating during the winter. Salt caverns are increasingly seen as a better storage facility, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Natural gas stored in salt caverns, principally in the greater Gulf Coast […]

Reel Thanx fundraising fishing tournament Oct. 17 – register now!

Reel Thanx fundraising fishing tournament Oct. 17 – register now!

Reel Thanx has helped 168 injured American veterans since 2007 Reel Thanx is a Midland-based charity that supports injured American military veterans. Twice a year Reel Thanx holds fund-raising events and registration is now open for the next one, a fishing tournament at Lake Amistad. American Energy News is proud to be a supporter of Reel […]

Rig count: Texas up by 8 in spite of lower oil prices

Rig count: Texas up by 8 in spite of lower oil prices

In the USA, rig count for oil was up by 21, down by 2 for natural gas Despite the dip in oil prices last week, the Texas rig count increased according to Houston-based Baker Hughes, with the Permian Basin gaining three. Texas gained a total of eight, jumping to 374. The United States increased by […]

Oil prices to hit $57 in 2015, $61 in 2016 – World Bank

Oil prices to hit $57 in 2015, $61 in 2016 – World Bank

Oil prices remain challenging this year, better next year, says World Bank report Despite recent steep declines in world oil prices to below $50, the World Bank is nudging up its 2015 forecast for crude oil prices from $53 in April to $57 per barrel, and $61 in 2016 as supply growth slows. The World […]

Clean Power Plan: Texas think tank launches challenge with Interstate Power Compact

Clean Power Plan: Texas think tank launches challenge with Interstate Power Compact

Will EPA’s Clean Power Plan be mired in legal wrangling if Interstate Power Compact is successful? A Texas think tank has launched an interesting end run around the Environmental Protection Agency that could hobble the Obama Administration’s key climate change strategy, the Clean Power Plan. The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Fueling Freedom Project announced this week […]

Texas gains just 8,500 manufacturing jobs over last year – report

Texas gains just 8,500 manufacturing jobs over last year – report

Texas benefits from quality workers, low cost of doing business, existing industrial base Texas manufacturing employment growth is beginning to slow after three years of robust expansion, adding just 8,500 manufacturing jobs from May 2014 to May 2015, according to the 2015 Texas Manufacturers Register®. The tepid growth amounted to just a half per cent expansion in the […]

Enterprise Products Partners refocuses on Permian, Eagle Ford

Enterprise Products Partners refocuses on Permian, Eagle Ford

Enterprise Products Partners sells Gulf offshore business for $1.5 billion to Genesis Energy Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD) announced Friday that it has closed on the sale of its offshore Gulf of Mexico pipelines and services business to Genesis Energy L.P. and plans to expand operations in Texas shale plays. The sale to Genesis netted […]

Power Africa: Congress puts brakes on Obama plan

Power Africa: Congress puts brakes on Obama plan

Export-Import Bank financing is key component of Power Africa As President Barack Obama returns to Africa this week, his signature program to help the continent double its access to electricity is in jeopardy, Power Africa, was undermined by Congress’ refusal to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank. Of the $7 billion that Obama set aside for Power […]

Encana new strategy focuses on Texas oil fields, Western Canada shale

Encana new strategy focuses on Texas oil fields, Western Canada shale

Encana may sell assets if low oil prices persist, says CEO Encana Corp. says continued low oil prices have forced it to trim its workforce by more than 200 over the past month, while concentrating two oil deposits in Texas and shale operations in Western Canada. The exploration and production company now has 1,400 fewer workers than […]