CO Methane Reductions Required
The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission approved rule revisions February 23 making the state the first to require the oil and gas industry to detect and reduce methane emissions. Governor John Hickenlooper (D) proposed the revisions last November.
ND Natural Gas Haste
Speaking to the Energy 2020 conference February 24, North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple (R) said that companies are working diligently to build infrastructure to take advantage of an abundance of natural gas from the Bakken Shale. Capturing natural gas instead of flaring it can help fuel industry and reduce emissions.
RGGI Proceeds Save $2 Billion
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative released a report February 24 finding that auction proceeds will result in a lifetime energy savings of $2 billion for residential customers in the region. About three million residential customers and 12,000 businesses will realize the savings.
RGGI Allowances Prices Up
Potomac Economics released a report February 25 finding that the price and trading volume of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative allowances on the secondary market significantly increased last year, sparked by changes in the cap and trade program. The price of allowances sold on the second market in the fourth quarter of 2013 was 56 percent higher than in the fourth quarter of 2012.
IN Clean Energy Program Scrapped
The Indiana House of Representatives passed an amendment February 25 that would eliminate former Governor Mitch Daniels’ (R) clean energy program, Demand Side Management, at the end of the year.
VA Hybrid Tax Repealed
Governor Terry McAuliffe (D-VA) signed legislation () February 26 repealing the state’s $64 annual fee on hybrid vehicles. The repeal is effective July 1 and will impact 75,000 vehicles in the state.
