Our weekly update to unravel the industry and political spin around the energy debate
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
LITTLE VICTORY IN PERMITTING LAWSUIT
The Department of Interior’s (DOI) effort to make public land drilling more predictable was setback when the in a suit over the use of a bureaucratic tool known as “categorical exclusions” to expedite drilling. The court’s decision means Bureau of Land Management (BLM) cannot rely on its 2010 guidance, but it does not require BLM to return to a practice of endangering our natural and cultural resources to permit drilling without any common sense limitations.
WHAT IF YOU GAVE A RALLY AND NOBODY CAME?
The Koch brothers-funded front group Americans for Prosperity brought their efforts to distract Americans from the billions in government handouts to oil and gas companies to Florida last week. Unfortunately, only a handful of people came out to watch their show. Good thing for AFP, since National President Tim Phillips acknowledged that a number of factors contribute to gas price fluctuation. According to Goldman Sachs, a big factor is . Want to know who are big oil speculators? Phillips’ sponsors the . Uh oh…
WHAT’S A GAS-POWERED BOARD?
Since 2008, more than 6,000 natural gas drilling permits have been issued in Garfield County, Colorado. Almost all of these permits have been approved under the supervision of Garfield County’s governing body, the Board of County Commissioners. The Checks and Balances Project who continue to give the industry the green light.
DID YOU KNOW?
IS THE SUPER COMMITTEE SUPER BIASED?
Now that the Super Panel has been established, it is clear who the big winner is: Big Oil. According to OpenSecrets, the six Republicans on the committee have collected a total of $1,029,024 in oil and gas contributions in the 2010 and 2012 cycles. The six Democrats have taken in $308,950 in oil and gas money. Let’s see who wants to cut billions in government handouts to Big Oil and who fights to protect them.
COMING UP THIS WEEK
DEFINE IMPARTIAL
Los Angeles Times reports that prices at the pump are expected to fall next week – a welcome reprieve for American families even late in the summer. It’s too bad it’s only the result of unsteady stock market and not the result of Big Oil turning their record profits into savings for their consumers.
CONTACT
Twitter: @checksandbals | Email: [email protected]
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