ND - State energy regulators announced the State's oil production increased less than expected in August, even though production has hit an all-time high. The state's oil wells produced 35.1 million barrels in August, up from 34.5 million barrels in July. The regulators faulted "stringent flaring-reduction standards and sliding oil prices" for the fall in production. Regulations on flaring, or the wasteful burning of natural gas that is extracted along with oil, were issued earlier this year as an attempt to curb the technique. The States will impose production cuts beginning with October flaring data if more than 26 percent of produced natural gas is flared. "I know oil producers are incredibly focused on gas capture and spending a lot of money to get there, but not all producers will get there right away," said Lynn Helms, director of North Dakota's Department of Mineral Resources. Flaring rule changes limit North Dakota oil production growth -- "Reuters"
TX - The Texas State Comptroller, Susan Combs, recently released a report criticizing renewable energy industry tax credits. The report, which portrays wind power as a "massive strain on taxpayer dollars," cited Texas's state property tax reductions and federal production tax credits as reasons to phase out other energy tax credits. Proponents of renewable energy and other industry experts disagreed with the report for several reasons including its failure to address oil and gas industry incentives and benefits derived from the renewable energy sector. Following the report's release, the comptroller's office announced they would publish another report on the State's natural gas drilling tax exemption - an incentive that has saved drilling operators more than 7 billion over a five year period. Tax credits for energy industry are under scrutiny - "The New York Times"
VA - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced that his administration intends to establish a state solar energy development authority. The new authority, which will mirror the Commonwealth's Offshore Wind Development Authority, will "facilitate public-private partnerships in solar energy use." The new solar authority will also examine barriers to solar energy development in the Commonwealth, which currently has only about 16 megawatts of solar generating capacity. The new solar energy development authority has not yet been created since it is not immediately clear if the state legislature will need to approve the agency. In 2010, according to the Commonwealth's recently released energy plan, "renewable energy resources provided about 6.2 percent of the electricity capacity in Virginia and about 5.1 percent of the electricity generated. By working together," Governor McAuliffe said, "I am confident that four years from now we will live in a stronger commonwealth that is less dependent on external forces and is fueled by cleaner, cheaper, and more abundant Virginia energy." McAuliffe to establish solar energy authority - "The Richmond Times-Dispatch"
FEDERAL AND REGIONAL
According to a new report by the Oil and Natural Gas Industry Labor-Management Committee, natural gas exploration in the Marcellus shale formation has created at least 45,000 construction jobs. The report's findings are based upon actual hours worked in four states - Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, and Ohio - and assume 1,600 hours worked each year per laborer. The report credits the use and expansion of certain drilling techniques, including hydraulic fracturing or fracking, for the increased production from the Marcellus shale. Study: Marcellus shale created 45,000 construction jobs - "The Hill"
The American Wind Energy Association (AWAE) announced that at least 419 megawatts of wind power capacity was added in the United States during the third quarter. Thus far, wind energy capacity generated in the first nine months of 2014 surpasses all installations last year. According to the report, "nineteen projects have added 1,254 megawatts this year, up from 1,088 megawatts in 2013." U.S. wind installations in first 9 months beat last year - "Bloomberg"
The Pentagon released a report that called climate change "an immediate security threat." According to "The New York Times", this is the first instance of the military considering the risks, both in terms of national security and potential political strife, posed by climate change. The report, which Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel discussed in a recent meeting of defense ministers, discusses how the armed forces will adjust to rising sea levels, droughts, and storms. The report did not offer any financial or budgetary recommendations for Congress. The Pentagon is currently operating a survey of its more than 7,000 bases, installations, and other facilities "to asses (their) vulnerability. The loss of glaciers will strain water supplies in several areas of our hemisphere," Secretary Hagel said. "Destruction and devastation from hurricanes can sow the seeds for instability. Droughts and crop failures can leave millions of people without any lifeline, and trigger waves of mass migration." Pentagon signals security risks of climate change - "The New York Times"
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