We need someone who can find a middle ground, who can allay some of the unfounded fears about fracking, promote public understanding of the energy opportunity we now face, yet also help the industry embrace better standards of transparency and safety.  More »

The federal government has opened a probe into the grounding of Shell’s Arctic drilling rig Kulluk, and investigation that could set back the company’s multibillion-dollar effort to explore in Alaska’s Chukchi and Beaufort seas.  More »

The Obama administration ordered a broad review of Shell’s Arctic drilling program on Tuesday, following a series of mishaps that culminated when the company’s Kulluk rig ran aground on New Year’s Eve. The move calls into question whether Shell Oil Co. will be allowed to continue its hunt for crude under the Chukchi and Beaufort seas north of Alaska, after spending $5 billion and more than six years on the quest.  More »

Advocates of Arctic oil exploration remain skeptical about a plan for managing wildlife and oil production in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska despite Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s assurance Wednesday that the plan won’t prevent the construction of new pipelines there.  More »

A top House Democrat is pressing the Obama administration for new details about the government-monitored test of a key Arctic oil spill response system that appeared to be “crushed like a beer can” during a sea trial in September.  More »

No one expects Wednesday’s sale of drilling rights in the western Gulf of Mexico to break any records. But for the offshore drilling industry, that may be a good thing. Analysts noted that a less-than-stellar auction could be evidence that industry is confident that future sales will take place on a predictable schedule.  More »

Two Republican senators are pressing the Obama administration to explain the math behind a decision to allow an offshore wind facility in leased waters off Delaware’s coast while blocking oil drilling in the same region.  More »

The Obama administration today rolled out more details on its Nov. 28 auction of drilling rights in the western Gulf of Mexico, when oil and gas companies will have a chance to snap up more than 20 million acres.  More »

Although neither Barack Obama nor Mitt Romney has specifically said who would lead the departments of Energy and Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency under their watches, the candidates have given some signals about the kinds of people they would choose.  More »

Oil and gas companies will have a chance to buy central Gulf of Mexico drilling leases during a March 20, 2013 auction — the first in the central Gulf under the administration’s five-year leasing plan.  More »

A top House Democrat is pressuring the Obama administration to block China’s state-owned oil company from snapping up Nexen’s Gulf of Mexico drilling leases as part of a $15 billion bid to buy the Canadian company.  More »

When Interior Secretary Ken Salazar touted an “all-of-the-above energy strategy” during a speech to the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, he listed a litany of power sources. Oil got a nod, as did natural gas, nuclear and hydropower. Renewable wind, geothermal and solar also netted specific mentions. But “coal” didn’t make Salazar’s list.  More »