Energy Today - Aug. 7, 2013

Mark Green
Posted August 7, 2013

EIA – U.S. Oil Production Reaches 21-Year High in July

The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s newest short-term outlook report finds that oil output increased to an average of 7.5 million barrels per day in July – the highest monthly level of production since 1991. EIA says total U.S. output will average 7.4 million barrels per day in 2013 and 8.2 mbd in 2014. Both of those estimates are increases over EIA’s previous short-term outlook.

The Times-Picayune – New Renewables Standards Miss Mark, Senator Says

EPA’s final 2013 renewable fuels mandate misses a chance to fix problems with the Renewable Fuel Standard this year, Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana tells the newspaper. "The EPA has finally realized that there is a major problem with the RFS – the ethanol blend wall – but punted on fixing the problem this year."

The Daily Times – New Mexico Governor Pushes Feds to Speed Up LNG Export Licensing

The Farmington, N.M., newspaper reports that Gov. Susana Martinez has pressed Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz on the LNG export issue, arguing exporting U.S. natural gas could benefit her state. “The construction and operation of LNG export terminals, along with increased production activity domestically, will support thousands of new jobs – if not many times that – and billions in new investment at a time when economic growth in our nation is sluggish,” Martinez wrote in a recent letter to Moniz.

The Hill – Murkowski: U.S. Could Miss LNG Export Window

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski released a white paper warning against legislation requiring additional economic studies on the export of U.S. natural gas and more restrictive regulations or policies that delay exports, the paper’s E2 Wire blog reports. “The window for the United States to join the global gas trade will not be open indefinitely,” the Murkowski report says. “In fact, it is narrowing, and there is a real possibility that the nation will miss out on a historic opportunity.”

Fuel Fix.com – Jewell Commends Bakken Operators for Cutting Emissions

During a tour of oil-rich North Dakota, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell praised producers for working on cutting carbon and methane emissions. “There’s no question that these guys are working to try and address the carbon pollution issue and the methane release,” Jewell said.