Author Archive

Tar Sands Expansion Cools Down Without Keystone XL

Energy Collection: A series of recent industry announcements is pouring cold water on the argument that tar sands development will happen at the same pace and scale with or without major infrastructure projects like Keystone XL. In recent months, two major tar sands mines have been canceled, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) have substantially reduced their forecasted rates of tar sands expansion, and rising costs have caused an investor exodus for a number of proposed projects. Even as increasing...

Inspector General Report Finds EPA Should Act Protect Texas Drinking Water From Oil

Energy Collection: A new report was released by the EPA Inspector General (IG)--the environmental agency’s independent internal watchdog-- regarding drinking water contamination linked with natural gas operations in Parker County, Texas, just west of Ft. Worth. The report is a result of an extremely in-depth investigation by the IG of EPA’s enforcement of this case, which started in 2010, and then the agency’s controversial move to abruptly drop the case in 2012. It’s a complicated case with various legal and scientific...