- by Chris Dyer
- October 15 2018
- coal
- Energy & Resources
The Smoldering Remains of American Coal
Coal production in the US continues to fall year-over-year, despite the best efforts of the current administration to end the “war on coal” and efforts by industry insiders to maintain market share. Even with relaxed environmental standards, demand for coal is falling precipitously. If environmental regulations are not responsible for killing coal, what is?
- by Owen Stuart
- August 13 2018
- Energy & Resources
Lower Standards for Gas May Get a Pass
In August 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a plan to freeze the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. While freezing the standards would likely stall the climb in fuel efficiency among the US motor vehicle park, ultimately increasing demand for motor vehicle fuel, the sharp legal resistance to the proposed changes will tie up the rulemaking for several years, ensuring that such rules are unlikely to take effect until the legal challenges are resolved. As a result, automakers will conform to previously established 2020 targets that make automobiles more fuel efficient, likely reducing demand for motor vehicle fuel for the next 2-4 years.
- by Owen Stuart
- August 13 2018
- Energy & Resources
Feeling Pain at the Pump? Blame Global Politics
Gas prices across the US have risen, and consumers are feeling the pain. Prices averaged $2.93 per gallon in the US during the month of July, and relief is definitely not in sight. Unfortunately, a confluence of geopolitical events and consumer habits have made petrol pumping prices pretty pear-shaped.
- by Chris Dyer
- May 7 2018
- Energy & Resources
- food
- Materials & Chemicals
- oil
- pet food
Squeezing More Value Out of Soybean Products
Demand for soybean products is projected to reach 45.9 million tons in 2022. Amid a sea of regulations impacting the use of soybean products in applications ranging from food to fuel, suppliers have begun to develop crops with specific traits in order to produce soybeans and soybean products with more desirable attributes suitable for specific roles.
- by Luke Hickman
- December 12 2017
- Energy & Resources
- natural gas
Three Segments to Watch in the US Energy Industry
US energy production is forecast to total 98.0 quadrillion British thermal units (But) in 2021, representing 3.1% annual gains from 84.0 quadrillion Btu in 2016. Three segments will drive the majority of these gains.
- by Cara Brosius
- June 14 2017
- Energy & Resources
- oil
US Consumers Less Gassy
US demand for refined petroleum products is forecast to total 6.2 billion barrels in 2021. The increasing fuel efficiency of US motor vehicles in use and demographic trends will reduce consumption volumes of gasoline, the largest demand segment.
- by Luke Hickman
- April 19 2017
- Energy & Resources
- liquid natural gas (LNG)
- natural gas
US Natural Gas Suppliers Enter the LNG Export Industry
US natural gas producers are expected to benefit significantly from the emerging liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade. Prior to 2016, only one LNG export facility operated in the US, located in Kenai, Alaska. However, by 2021 six LNG export facilities are projected to be operating in the lower 48 states...
- by Cara Brosius
- January 11 2017
- coal
- electricity generation
- Energy & Resources
- natural gas
US Coal Production: Down, But Not Lights Out
Coal has been declared a dying industry by articles in some publications like Forbes and The New York Times, but how bad has the outlook for US coal really gotten? As it turns out, large declines in US coal production are not expected to continue in the next few years, because the switch from coal to natural gas in electricity generation is largely complete.