Nationwide

About 351 energy projects — both conventional and alternative — have been stopped in their tracks nationwide due to a sluggish permitting process and environmental opponents. This is costing the U.S. economy $1.1 trillion in gross domestic product (GDP) over a seven year period and 1.9 million jobs annually, according to a report released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Thursday.

Produced water from natural gas shale deposits has drawn a lot of attention nationwide, but that focus soon may turn to produced water in coalbed methane (CBM) operations, according to the results of a new study.

Produced water from natural gas shale deposits has drawn a lot of attention nationwide, but that focus soon may turn to produced water in coalbed methane (CBM) operations, according to the results of a new study.

The summer of 2010 is likely to be warmer than normal for much of the country, with average temperatures nationwide much warmer than the summer of 2009, according to separate forecasts issued last week by AccuWeather.com Chief Long Range Forecaster Joe Bastardi and Andover, MA-based WSI Corp. And the consensus forecast for the hurricane season is pointing increasingly towards an unusually active season, with WSI and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center each increasing the number of tropical storms they expect to form in the Atlantic.

The summer of 2010 is likely to be warmer than normal for much of the country, with average temperatures nationwide “much warmer” than the summer of 2009, AccuWeather.com Chief Long Range Forecaster Joe Bastardi said Monday.

Despite the nearly nationwide warm-up expected for the Jan. 18-22 week, the February natural gas futures contract departed from Thursday’s weakness to probe the upside Friday. The prompt-month contract traded into the low $5.70s before closing the regular session at $5.691, up 10.3 cents from Thursday’s finish but 5.8 cents lower than the previous week’s close.

Nine nationwide projects designed to improve water resource management practices at shale gas and coalbed methane (CBM) drilling sites were given a green light to move forward with funding from the Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). The projects come at an opportune time as state and federal regulators scrutinize hydraulic fracturing at oil and gas drilling sites (see related stories).

Nine nationwide projects designed to improve water resource management practices at shale gas and coalbed methane (CBM) drilling sites were given a green light to move forward with funding from the Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).

Nationwide implementation of smart grid technology would have “a substantial and immediate impact” on the U.S. electricity system and deliver “immense environmental benefits” by reducing carbon emissions, according to CURRENT Group LLC CEO Tom Casey.