For the third year in a row energy played a central role in President Obama's State of the Union address, with the president leaning hard this year on the twin themes of increased domestic oil and gas production and the need to invest more in renewable sources.
Senate Republicans introduced a bill that would require the Secretary of State to issue a U.S. permit for the Keystone XL pipeline within 60 days. This still "provides adequate time for Nebraska to shift the route of the pipeline" while allowing construction to begin elsewhere.
The State Department on Thursday announced that it's punting a decision on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline until at least the first quarter of 2013. House Speaker John Boehner responded: "More than 20,000 new American jobs have just been sacrificed in the name of political expediency".
A Senate Energy Committee effort to advance offshore drilling-safety legislation stalled Thursday in a battle over the fate of oil-production revenues, even with an amendment that would dedicate the remaining 12.5 percent of revenues to a clean energy trust fund to pay for state projects.
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will vote next week on legislation aimed at improving offshore drilling safety (i.e. stiffen penalties, strengthen well blowout-prevention standards and increase offshore inspections). Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) said Thursday she would offer an amendment that provides coastal states a significant share of revenues from offshore energy development in federal waters.
A year after it capped its out-of-control well in the Gulf of Mexico, oil giant BP PLC said Friday it is taking new steps to improve the reliability of the cement used to seal its wells and the fail-safe devices used to prevent blowouts.
New Hampshire elected officials comment on recent June employment report.
Gov. John Lynch vetoed a bill Wednesday that would end New Hampshire's participation in a regional program designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
The average price for a gallon of regular in New Hampshire fell by more than 20 cents over the past month, what the travel and tourism industry calls a timely incentive for visitors this holiday weekend.
The state of New Hampshire will decide whether a wind farm is built in the town of Antrim.
