BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Organizers expect about 2,800 people to attend a three-day event in Bismarck highlighting the state’s oil patch. The Williston Basin Petroleum Conference and Expo starts Tuesday at the Bismarck Civic Center. The North Dakota Petroleum Council says people come from about 40 states and a few foreign countries. The event brings together engineers, geologists, investors, CEOs ...
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New York senators continue to question gas pipeline expansion
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York’s U.S. senators are urging the federal government to halt the expansion of a gas pipeline project that runs beside a nuclear power plant. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand want the Algonquin pipeline project halted until independent health and safety reviews are completed. The two Democrats say the project poses a threat to the ...
Read More »Wolf’s environmental protection secretary resigns
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s environmental protection secretary resigned Friday after Wolf’s office began looking into an email the official sent to environmental advocacy groups from a private email address. Wolf confirmed John Quigley’s resignation in a brief interview with The Associated Press, but he did not explain the reasons behind it. The governor said Quigley did ...
Read More »Israeli Cabinet OKs new gas deal after High Court objections
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s Cabinet has approved a new deal with a consortium of natural gas developers after the country’s Supreme Court rejected the previous agreement. The new deal changes a clause that would have prevented Israel from making significant regulatory changes for the next ten years. The Supreme Court struck down the deal over that clause and gave Israel ...
Read More »European Union clears power deal between Danish operator, utility
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union has ruled that an electricity deal between Danish utility DONG Energy and government-owned grid operator Energinet.dk doesn’t constitute state aid. Under the 2011-2015 deal, DONG, which is majority-owned by the government, was required to supply electricity at short notice to ensure the stability of the power grid. Competitors had complained to the EU executive ...
Read More »NY boosts first responder training for oil fires
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York state is making a new investment in helping first responders train for oil fires. The state will use $500,000 in federal funds to purchase a “live fire” training prop to help fire fighters and other emergency personnel learn how to respond to crude oil fires. It is part of a broader effort to prepare ...
Read More »Fire evacuation orders lifted north of Fort McMurray
FORT MCMURRAY, Alberta (AP) — Alberta officials on Saturday lifted mandatory evacuation orders in some areas north of Fort McMurray, where a raging wildfire has forced the evacuation of more than 80,000 people and the closure of oil sands operations. Officials said conditions have improved in some parts north of the oil sands city. Suncor Energy Inc. and Syncrude will ...
Read More »Wealthy climate activist spends heavily in California race
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer reported Friday that he has made a $500,000 contribution to help an incumbent Democratic state senator who backed a 2015 proposal to cut petroleum use by half within 15 years in the state. Steyer disclosed the contribution to aid Sen. Jim Beall in his south San Francisco Bay Area primary race against ...
Read More »Company ordered to stop cleaning LA homes near gas leak
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Health officials concerned that protocols are not being followed ordered Southern California Gas Co. to stop cleaning homes of residents forced to leave because of a gas leak near their Los Angeles neighborhood. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health ordered the halt Sunday after concluding the utility’s contractor was not properly trained or equipped ...
Read More »Fuel blockades lead to shortages in Paris, police action
FOS-SUR-MER, France (AP) — Behind blockades of flaming tires, striking workers in front of the Fos-sur-Mer oil refinery are standing firm, playing the accordion — and slowly draining France of its fuel. The union-led blockade, one of several set up at refineries and depots across France, is aimed at securing the withdrawal of the country’s labor reforms, which hopes to ...
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