Cheaper, Cleaner Energy
...And See If It Sticks. That appears to be where government stands on quelling oil and gasoline prices. Congress is now proposing bucketsful of legislation and other actions in a pre-election panic. Some of it is on target and some is just pander, either populist or corporate. Let's sort it out: the Bad, the Ineffective, the Actually Helpful
A national lawsuit over water pollution from a gasoline additive was more than half-settled yesterday when four of the five major oil comanies agreed to pay $423 million in cleanup and other costs. Chevron, Shell, BP, Conoco and several smaller companies did what's right, and will escape years more of litigation costs. Exxon, which can no doubt afford to litigate until the world ends, was the only major holdout.
Oil prices are in Alice in Wonderland territory. Today's new futures-market record, above $122 a barrel, occurred despite a substantial rise in both crude oil stocks and gasoline stocks in the U.S., as reported by the federal Energy Information Administration. In any vaguely normal market, both of those events would drive down oil prices. But today, the speculators just shrugged, said "what the heck," and kept the upward spike going. Pardon my suspicious mind, but I connect it to "predictions" of $150 or even $200 a barrel crude oil.
"Alternative energy could be liquid fuel
from coal, or gasification projects," OilWatchdog.org's Judy Dugan said. "Alternatives are
often a code word for a different way to use fossil fuels. Chevron
needs to let us know what they are doing that is really green."San Ramon-based Chevron said it expects to spend the money over a...
Politicians are dying to get at more of Big Oil's billions, but analysts are torn about what that will do to prices or future energy sources.
Politicians are dying to get at more of Big Oil's billions, but analysts are torn about what that will do to prices or future energy sources.
NEW YORK, NY -- Politicians are eyeing oil profits like a fat...
Tired of paying through the nose, Americans try praying at the pump because the earthly powers-that-be don't seem to give a hoot, said Judy Dugan, a research director at Consumer Watchdog, a non-profit group based in California.WASHINGTON, DC -- At a Shell gas station in Washington, Rocky Twyman and an unusual group of activists were mad as hell about soaring fuel prices.
"Last week,...
Stability could be fleeting, analyst says, as California average pauses at $3.92.« Previous
Chevron rides soaring crude oil prices to record 1st qtr. profit of $5.17 billion, as consumers feel squeeze at pump and White House does nothing.
Recent Articles:
Chevron Commits to 'Alt' Energy
By George Avalos, CONTRA COSTA TIMES (CA)
May 7, 2008
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Taxing Oil Profits: Proceed With Caution
By Steve Hargreaves, CNNMONEY.COM
May 6, 2008
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Tired of Paying Through the Nose, Americans Try Praying at the Pump
By Karin Zeitvogel, AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
May 5, 2008
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Gas Prices Level Off -- For Today
By Dale Kasler, SACRAMENTO BEE
May 3, 2008
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Chevron's Profit Tops $5 Billion
Ronald D. White, LOS ANGELES TIMES
May 3, 2008
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