Fossil

Production from the nation’s shale plays will grow to 12.2 Tcf in 2035, when it will be 47% of total U.S. production, up from 16% in 2009, according to the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) “Annual Energy Outlook 2011” (AEO2011), which was released Tuesday.

The U.S. energy system is now dependent for more than 230,000 MW of power from fossil fuel-fired generation plants that are 40 or more years old, and that represents a $165 billion opportunity for newer, more efficient electric generation plants over the next five years, many of which could be fired by natural gas, Calpine Corp. CEO Jack Fusco told analysts last month at the independent power plant operator’s annual financial conference in Houston.

The U.S. energy system is now dependent for more than 230,000 MW of power from fossil fuel-fired generation plants that are 40 or more years old, and that represents a $165 billion opportunity for newer, more efficient electric generation plants over the next five years, many of which could be fired by natural gas, Calpine Corp. CEO Jack Fusco told analysts Tuesday at the independent power plant operator’s annual financial conference in Houston.

Natural gas wholesale prices, along with those of other fossil fuels, are a major factor that continues to bedevil planners at the Northwest Power and Conservation Council as they attempt to finalize the organization’s sixth Power Plan, according to report on the draft plan given to council representatives at their monthly meeting last week.

Natural gas wholesale prices, along with those of other fossil fuels, are a major factor that continues to bedevil planners at the Northwest Power and Conservation Council as they attempt to finalize the organization’s sixth Power Plan, according to report on the draft plan given to council representatives at their monthly meeting Wednesday in Sun Valley, ID.

Congress needs to take action on carbon pricing to establish more parity between renewables and fossil fuels that historically have enjoyed generous tax code subsidies, FERC Commissioner Marc Spitzer, a former tax attorney and Arizona state regulator, told a Law Seminars International conference, “Energy in California,” Tuesday in San Francisco.

Natural gas only has to make a small dent in the energy market shares of coal and oil to score major gains, say Canadian boosters of the cleanest fossil fuel — and they are picking up hammers with apparent government support at least in Ontario, where plans to phase out coal-fired power are speeding up.

Natural gas only has to make a small dent in the energy market shares of coal and oil to score major gains, say Canadian boosters of the cleanest fossil fuel — and they are picking up hammers with apparent government support at least in Ontario, where plans to phase out coal-fired power are speeding up.

U.S. demand for fossil fuels — natural gas, oil and coal — will remain “exactly flat” to 2020, with only gas projected to grow at a rate of just 0.6% a year, according to a new report by McKinsey Global Institute (MGI).