August 18, 2008
Proposal Would Cut Oregon Coal Plant’s Haze-Causing Pollution | www.oregonlive.com
When air pollution retrofits are placed on a power plant, a regulated, investor-owned, utility financially benefits. An unregulated, independent power producer (IPP) does not necessarily financially benefit.
CAIR Ruling Makes it Cheaper to Turn Off/Bypass Scrubbers, But Unlikely to Happen
August 18, 2008
Power Failure: A Court Defeat for the EPA Leaves it Up to Congress to Tackle Utilities' Air Pollution | www.washingtonpost.com
The Court’s July 11, 2008 decision vacating the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) caused the price of SO2 emissions allowances to decrease less than the cost of operating a scrubber to reduce the SO2 emissions. The discussions that follow discuss this and the likelihood of this happening.
Coal- to Gas-Fired Generation Considerations: It is Not Just Fuel Economics
August 18, 2008
Gas Drop Buoys Dynegy, Mirant in Slowing U.S. Economy | www.bloomberg.com
As the article points out, natural gas-fired generation may be cheaper than coal-fired generation in certain parts of the nation. The section below discusses some of the items that go into the decision to fuel switch from coal to natural gas.
Court Decision Striking Down CAIR Affect on SO2 Allowance Pricing
July 14, 2008
Clean Air Efforts Suffer Two Setbacks | www.philly.com
The court decision striking down the Clean Air Interstate Rule will have an affect on SO2 allowances and the SO2 premium earned by coal suppliers.
Court’s Ruling Against Clean Air Interstate Rule and Affect on Emissions Control Spending
July 14, 2008
Clean Air Rules Are Overturned by Court | www2.journalnow.com
The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit striking down the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) will affect emissions control spending in the immediate term.
Potential Future Actions by Congress and EPA on Emissions and Resulting Opportunity
July 14, 2008
Court Rejects EPA Rule | www.greentechmedia.com
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit struck down the EPA’s Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) to reduce NOx and SO2 in 28 Eastern United States. This follows a court decision striking down EPA’s Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR). These court decisions will eventually cause actions and opportunities in the emissions control space.
The Value of Fuel Surcharges in Rail Transportation Agreements for Coal
July 14, 2008
Railroads: The Calm After the Storm | investerms.com
Railroads, unlike airlines and trucking firms, are able to pass along the high cost of fuel in transportation agreements. Below discusses this and the value to the railroads for coal transportation.
Comments on Bunge and Corn Products International Merger
June 26, 2008
Bunge Should Jump from Here | seekingalpha.com
It is a win-win marriage made in Brazil. The timing is perfect to take advantage of record stock prices and commodity prices, though wet corn milling might have some problems next year.
Easing Ethanol Mandates and Opening the CRP- Possible Solutions to High Cron and Soybean Prices
June 23, 2008
U.S. May Free Up More Land for Corn Crops | www.nytimes.com
There are possibly 4-6 million acres lost this year due to flooding in the Midwest. This has been enough to force corn, soybean and some meat prices to record prices this month. If prices rise further due to a reduction in yields due to a hot dry spell during pollination, will the government be forced to take action to mitigate the impact on food inflation?
No Guarantee Rising Fuel Costs May Be Passed On By Regulated Utilities to Customers
June 23, 2008
Rapid-Rising Fuel Costs Force Power Price Increase | www.chipleypaper.com
The input costs for utilities to generate electricity are up. These costs include coal, transportation, natural gas, and power purchases. There are no guarantees, however, that a regulated utility may pass along these costs as discussed in the commentary section.
Shale gas abundance provides new options for energy companies
February 13, 2012
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