Media

After hundreds of years of being the dominant source for electrical power generation, separate reports by the commodity analysts and the media say the coal industry faces an uncertain future as natural gas prices remain low and utilities build new power plants fueled by natural gas.

Even with the intense media coverage of of hydraulic fracturing (fracking), most people haven’t heard about it or are unfamiliar with the practice, according to a nationwide poll conducted in March by the University of Texas at Austin (UT). Of the one-third familiar with fracking “support outweighed opposition, 48% to 36%.”

Even with the intense media coverage of of hydraulic fracturing (fracking), most people haven’t heard about it or are unfamiliar with the practice, according to a nationwide poll conducted in March by the University of Texas at Austin (UT). Of the one-third familiar with fracking “support outweighed opposition, 48% to 36%.”

A contentious House committee hearing over an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report on possible natural gas contamination of well water started off with the ejection from the hearing room of director Josh Fox of the controversial film, Gasland.

Two high-ranking state oil/gas drilling officials were fired by California’s Gov. Jerry Brown for putting too many roadblocks in the state’s permitting process, it was reported Monday. The move brought immediate praise from the exploration/production (E&P) industry, which has increasingly been critical of what its leaders viewed as an overly arduous process for obtaining permits to drill new wells.

The Canadian government is launching two separate studies on the science of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and its potential impact on the environment.

An official with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) said a recent media report that the commission was poised to rake in millions of dollars from a five-year deal to sell lake water for use in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) was exaggerated.

An official with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) said a recent media report that the commission was poised to rake in millions of dollars from a five-year deal to sell lake water for use in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) was exaggerated.

No matter how powerful the news media might seem, it can’t reverse the flow of gas on a major interstate transmission pipeline. Responding to a financial analyst’s question last week, Kinder Morgan Inc. CEO Rich Kinder said recent rumors of a flow reversal on Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) were greatly exaggerated.