Contributing Member of the Energy & Industrials Councils
Names and details of certain GLG News authors are available only to GLG Clients and Council Members. GLG News authors are subject-matter experts within the GLG Councils and are available for expert consulting - by phone, in-person, or written analysis. To find out how to become a GLG client or Council Member, click here.
GLG News by this Author
GLG News is now G+ Insights
-
G+ is a community for professionals, academics and entrepreneurs to connect through online discussions and in-person meetings. You will continue to see G+ Insights (formerly GLG News) here as well as on the G+ website, where you can share and discuss the G+ Insights you read.
-
Negative Economic Impact in Pre-Empting State Regualtion
July 8, 2009
Federal Hydraulic Fracturing Regulation's Impacts Estimated | www.ogj.com
The economic strength of the United States would suffer considerably if hydraulic fracturing is federally regulated according to the API. Present proposals to include the practice under the EPA regulation would be redundant and increase regulatory costs for drilling by $100,000 per well.
-
July 8, 2009
Oil Baron's Wind Farm Project Hits Doldrums | www.cnn.com
Citing infrastructure and capital markets issues T. Boone Pickens, chairman of BP Capital Management is being "less aggressive with the Panhandle project". Planned to generate 4,000 megawatts of electricity, in effect the Pampa Wind Farm Project was designed as the world's largest wind farm.
-
June 22, 2009
Estimate Places Natural Gas Reserves 35% Higher | www.nytimes.com
New drilling technologies have made it possible to unlock substantial amounts of natural gas from shale rocks. This has prompted the Potential Gas Committee to raise its estimate of gas reserves by 35%. This includes proven reserves, as well as probable, possible and speculative reserves.
-
June 10, 2009
Trucking embraces technology | fleetowner.com
A survey by Frost & Sullivan conducted from December 2008 to January 2009 illustrates that companies will continue to explore technological developments in efficiency and safety, despite reduced capacity and revenues. The big technology issues are in the areas of efficiency in utilization and operating costs, environmental compliance & communications. Safety systems are a different issue, do the rather complex and expensive nature of the technology.
-
June 9, 2009
Cuba could become U.S. oil supplier at embargo's end | www.mcclatchydc.com
The U. S. Geological Service estimates that the Exclusive Economic Zone contains 4.6 billion barrels of oil and 9.8 billion cubic feet of natural gas. Cuba which estimates reserves at 20 billion barrels, began to sell concessions for exploration and development in the 70,000 square mile zone in 2001. The problem for the Cuban's now is that the primary partner in exploration, development and refining capacity upgrades is Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), which has suffered from a serious reduction in oil revenues, as well as adverse effects from operational difficulties and government liquidity problems. So the real question is how does the embargo affect that development and who is poised to take immediate advantage?
-
Added Regulation and Higher Costs
June 9, 2009
Legislation Could Change the Drill for Barnett Shale | www.rigzone.com
In 2004 the Environmental Protection Agency reviewed the drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing finding that the practice, in use since the 1940's. The process involves encasing a well in steel and concrete and then inject a mixture of sand, chemicals and 95% water; the casing protects ground water from contamination. It is an effective method of producing natural gas. In fact The Barnett Shale produces 6% of all gas used in the United States, according to Oil & Gas journal. The practice is presently regulated by states and not subject to the Safe Drinking Water Act and oversight by the EPA. Federal regulation on top of state regulation could add $150,00 to deep well costs, and reduce drilling. Assuming a steady or increasing demand for natural gas as the economy recovers this artificial restriction on production capacity would result in higher costs.
-
Friendlier Skies and Federal Preemption
January 15, 2009
Flight Delays Could Result in Lawsuits | online.wsj.com
On Monday, December 8, 2008 the Department of Transportation published in the Federal Register a Notice of Proposed Rule Making, affecting 14 CFR Parts 234, 259 and 399. The NPRM basically does the following: 1) Require air carriers to adopt contingency plans for lengthy tarmac delays and to incorporate them into their contract of carriage. 2) Require airlines to respond to consumer problems. 3) Declare the operation of flights that remain chronically delayed to be an unfair and deceptive practice and an unfair method of competition. 4) Require air carriers to publish delay data on their Web sites. 5) Require air carriers to adopt customer service plans and incorporate these in their contract of carriage and audit their adherence to the plan. The benefit is that consumers would have more information available, while the downside is that carriers may have more exposure to breach of contract actions.
-
December 16, 2008
Air Board OKs Nation's Toughest Diesel Rules | www3.signonsandiego.com
The vote by the California Air Resources Board enacting new emissions standards for commercial motor vehicles represents a major move in the effort to clean up our air quality and will save an estimated $68 billion in public health care costs. However, it is one of the most expensive mandates ever to affect the motor carrier industry. Not just trucks but also buses and the regulations were opposed by school districts that are struggling to keep their transportation programs afloat. The new regulations also reflect a disturbing trend toward state by state regulations of emissions, rather than a coherent national policy.
-
December 16, 2008
Con-way Pares 2008 Earnings Forecast, Cuts 1,450 Jobs (Update2) | www.bloomberg.com
Con-way Inc. is one of the largest U. S. freight transportation and logistics providers, with businesses in truckload, less-than-truckload freight, as expedite, freight brokerage arifreight forwarding, logisitcs, warehousing, supply chain management and trailer manufacturing. Trading as CNW:US the company announced a payroll reduction equal to 8 percent of its workforce and revised its per-share profit downward to $2.20 to $2.35 per share, from $2.60 to $2.80.
-
November 24, 2008
Gas Troika plans LNG joint venture, paper says | www.ogj.com
The "Troika" may be but the harbinger of an OPEC like forum in natural gas. Discussions for exploration of Iran's natural gas fields should in light of Alexy Miller's comments regarding formation of a "Gas Exporting Countries Froum" should be taken seriously. At the same time, the announcement illustrates the futility of the Bush Administration's attempts to isolate IRan from the world's economic community. It also demonstrates the negative impact on U. S. companies in the exploration and engineering/construction markets of the U. S. Policy.
-
November 24, 2008
Coal Power Plants May Have to Clean Up Their Act | www.usatoday.com
The Environmental Appeals Board recently blocked the EPA from issuing a permit for the Desert Power Electric Cooperatives planned plant near Vernal, Utah. The plant is to be coal fired. The action is based on arguments put forward by Sierra Club and others that the EPA failed to recognize Carbon Dioxide as a pollutant requiring regulation. According to the Board, the EPA failed to adequately address the reasons for its justification in not requiring Carbon capture.
-
Recession and Alternative Fuels
November 13, 2008
Will plummeting gas prices hurt the push for alternative fuels? | abcnews.go.com
Production of Ethanol is scheduled to "ramp up" to 36 billion gallons by 2022 under the Renewable Fuel Stnadard (RFS). To meet that mandate investors must pour billions into cellulosic ethanol plants. However the recession is dampening demand for gasoline and new hybrid automobile technology.
-
November 13, 2008
New attitude: Obama vows change, agency by agency | www.washingtonpost.com
Historically, every President - elect vows change. President - elect Obama has vowed to reverse or modify many existing government policies and programs. Thee most important area's for an Obama administration are Energy, Environment, Transportation and Foreign Policy. They are all uniquely tied together and changes can have a dramatic effect on our international involvement. He can achieve some changes by Executive Order, the existing regulatory process and legislation. These areas Energy, Environment and Transportation affect our foreign policy, and positive changes can help the U. S. achieve "Energy Security and Interdependence", fulfill our commitment to reducing green house gases and strengthen our role as a world leader.
-
November 7, 2008
Four Reasons to Expect a Solar Boom | seekingalpha.com
Solar will never be a major solution to US Energy Policy. Solar has the potential to provide a reasonable amount of energy but not enough to provide large quantities of base load power. However solar effectiveness is limited presently by the cost of construction, manufacturing and by nature itself.
-
Port Security: An Unmet Requirement
November 3, 2008
Port Security: Chertoff says 100 percent scanning requirements will not be met by 2012 | www.logisticsmgmt.com
Again the Department of Homeland Security will fail to meet a mandated requirement for 100% screening of maritime cargo entering United States Ports. However the mandate contained in the 2007 legislation was too aggressive especially in light of the 11 million containers shipped to the U. S. on an annual basis.
-
October 30, 2008
CSX chief says coal is under attack | www.topix.net
CSX is the nations leading coal hauling railroad, and as such has a vested interest in promoting the continued use of coal. However, Mr. Ward, is correct, excluding coal from national energy policy would be shortsighted and dangerous. This country is rich in coal, and makes us the Saudi Arabia in this resource. Since President Carter, we have heard politicians use the term "Energy Independence". Coal must be part of that plan.
-
A Middle Class Driven to the Brink
October 30, 2008
General Motors, Driven to the Brink | www.nytimes.com
What is happening to the U. A. W. "middle class" is a representative portrait of what is happening to the American "middle class". This group will never be reconstituted. The decline of the U. A. W. "middle class" is the direct result of miscalculation on the part of the American automobile industry, the unions and their inability to recognize the economic and cultural changes that have been on the horizon for several years. Like Ford and Chrysler the "General" concentrated too many resources on a type of product that was a symbol of conspicuous consumption, and directly opposite to what their competitors were concentrating on. A strategic error that could result in the failure of the "Big 3".
-
October 27, 2008
Truck Capacity in Reverse | www.trafficworld.com
Trucking is making a conscious effort to reduce capacity and has been doing so since 2006. Hunt, Werner and Sift have removed and do not plan to reinstate 1,400 units. Of course capacity is being further reduced by the record number of carrier bankruptcies. Right now the industry is about right sized to demand.
-
October 15, 2008
Court: Relatives Who Assist In Suicide Can Inherit | www.lexisone.com
The ruling allowing relatives who assist in suicide to inherit is terrible precedent, basically permitting financial recovery for those who break state laws such as those which ban assisted suicide. Precedent rulings such as the Wisconsin case are like small rocks thrown into a pond; they tend to have an outward ripple to other states.
-
October 7, 2008
An Admirable Response to the Crisis | maxkapital.wordpress.com
While I agree with the premise that the monetary response by the federal government has been correct by attempting to stimulate investment using the Federal Reserve. However, the author argues that "risk perception is being addressed through tacking solvency issues through the tentitive plan to acquire illiquid debt." The author also believes that the issue of risk perception is being addressed through the government action in the case of Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and AIG. I would argue that the problem of risk perception remains, particularly on Main Street, USA and that may be the biggest obstacle to resolving these crises.
- Subscribe to Updates
-
This author consults with leading institutions through GLG
Most Popular Energy & Industrials News
-
Chesapeake Energy bites the natural gas bullet
January 25, 2012
-
Flurry of newbuild drilling rig deliveries in 2012 may dampen rig rates
January 20, 2012
-
Talisman joins the ranks of cautious E&P companies
January 12, 2012
-
Early signs of caution begin to cloud frontier exploration and production
January 4, 2012
-
Two global energy pipeline projects deserve attention
November 15, 2011
Gerson Lehrman Group, Inc. connects communities with knowledge through two distinct, yet complementary offerings: GLG Research and G+.