Subsidies

The latest estimates from several sources indicate that fossil fuel subsidies globally are growing, ranging from $523 billion to more than $1.9 trillion, according to a Worldwatch Institute research fellow. Subsidy levels have rebounded back to 2008 levels, according to Philipp Tagwerker.

The outlook for natural gas has never been brighter, but in many areas — including North America, Europe and the entire southern hemisphere — using solar energy to generate electricity could become cost-competitive or even gain a cost advantage over gas-fired generation by 2025, according to a report by Boston-based Lux Research.

As the oil and natural gas industry continues to lobby to keep its drilling subsidies, the American Petroleum Institute (API) has released a new study to show how the industry’s nationwide workforce positively impacts the United States by creating jobs and wages.

Despite meetings that brought together members of both chambers and both sides of the aisle in Pennsylvania’s General Assembly and representatives from the gas industry at the Governor’s Mansion in Harrisburg Monday and Tuesday, agreement on a proposed natural gas severance tax bill remains elusive, according to Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson).

Subsidies for compressed natural gas (CNG) in Utah continued to gain ground Wednesday when Gov. Jon Huntsman signed into law a bill allowing the state Public Service Commission to continue to authorize a gas rate for natural gas vehicles (NGV) that is below the actual cost of service.

While there are no loan guarantees or other direct subsidies, Canada’s Arctic natural gas project is studded with extras spawned by political aspects of opening up a new supply region with a touchy population.

The mood on Capitol Hill Wednesday was cautiously upbeat as reports circulated that the feuding tax writers had made some headway on the disputed items in the multi-billion dollar tax package of the broad energy bill, prompting some aides and legislative analysts to venture that a final conference vote on the legislation could occur next week.

Key legislative provisions favorable to natural gas production are winding up on the cutting-room floor as House-Senate negotiations over a broad energy bill come down to the wire.