Energy Today –August 2, 2013

Mary Schaper
Posted August 2, 2013

The Hill – Time to Get Serious About Exporting Natural Gas

In a guest editorial, Southern Methodist University’s Bernard Weinstein argues for U.S. natural gas exports. Weinstein notes a study that found that "boosting exports would decrease the U.S. trade deficit by between $11 billion and $27 billion each year… and that continued development of domestic shale gas resources could create 1.7 million jobs in the United States by 2020."

Centre Daily News – Illinois College Offering Courses on Oil and Natural Gas

Southeastern Illinois College will begin offering two new oil and natural gas programs in January 2014. This comes after Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation allowing hydraulic fracturing in the state last month.

Washington Times – A Pipeline to Prosperity

In a Wash Times editorial, the paper writes that the Keystone XL pipeline would create “thousands of good-paying jobs, blue-collar jobs to keep it running.” Also of note: the State Department’s own estimates found that construction of the pipeline would support approximately 42,100 average annual jobs across the U.S. – despite recently claims by President Obama. 

San Antonio Business Journal – Shale Plays Drove Proved Crude Oil reserves to Another Record Year

Texas recorded the largest increased in proved oil reserves in 2011 thanks largely to increased shale development in the eagle Ford and Permian Basin. Natural gas also got a boost from this increase in development, yet fell short of a record.

Washington Examiner – Energy Secretary: Hydraulic Fracturing is Safe

Yesterday, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz told reporters ‘I still have not seen any evidence of fracking contaminating groundwater.”