17 Years Bringing You News from the Energy Capital of the Planet
 
Author: <span>Shiloh</span>

Democratic presidential candidates express anti-oil agenda

By Alex Mills

 

August 8, 2019

Energy policy no longer has a place in the debates among Democrat candidates for President. The buzz words for Democrats today are “climate change,” “environmental justice” and the “Green New Deal.”

Crude oil, natural gas, coal and nuclear are not a part of the platforms of the 20-something Democratic candidates. Not even the two candidates from Texas – Beto O’Rourke and Julian Castro – have any mention of oil and natural gas on their official webpages. O’Rourke does say he would stop granting federal leases for development of fossil fuels, and develop funding ($5 trillion) for climate change investments and “economic diversification.” Castro’s webpage has no mention of energy or climate change.

During the recent second round of debates last week, former Vice President Joe Biden was asked by the moderator if there would be “any place for fossil fuels, including coal and fracking” in his administration and he replied “no.”

Biden, the leading contender in the polls, does devote a lengthy discourse on his webpage discussing his policy “ensuring the U.S. achieves a 100 percent clean energy economy and net-zero emissions no later than 2050.” To achieve this very lofty goal, Biden says he will issue executive orders, seek legislative remedies, establish “enforcement mechanisms,” and make “historic investment in clean energy.” Those enforcement mechanisms include “action against fossil fuel companies and other polluters who put profit over people.”…
 

Pin Oak Corpus Christi Announces Interconnection to EPIC and Red Oak Pipelines: Press Release

August 7, 2019

Pin Oak Corpus Christi, LLC (Pin Oak) has announced material updates to its growing terminals business in the Corpus Christi market, including new interconnection agreements with EPIC Pipeline and Red Oak Pipeline and commencement of construction on its new crude oil trading hub at Taft (Taft Terminal). The Taft Terminal will complement Pin Oak’s Corpus Christi Terminal, an approximately 4 million bbl storage facility with export-capable Suezmax and MR docks set to commence operations in 4Q19….
 

Phillips 66 Partners Announces 2Q Earnings of $233 Million

August 7, 2019

Phillips 66 Partners announces second-quarter 2019 earnings of $233 million compared with $198 million in the first quarter of 2019. Cash from operations was $276 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $319 million in the second quarter, compared with $281 million in the prior quarter.

The improvements are due to increased volumes on the Explorer, Bakken and Bayou Bridge joint venture pipelines, as well as increased volumes on wholly owned pipelines, driven by higher utilisation at refineries operated by Phillips 66….
 

UT Electric Car Research Boosted By Cobalt-Free Battery

August 3, 2019

 

The elimination of cobalt — an expensive chemical component currently required to power our smartphones and laptops — from lithium-ion batteries has been the goal of Texas Engineer Arumugam Manthiram for much of his career.

When paired with a graphite anode (the terminal on a battery through which an electric current enters), a lithium cobalt oxide cathode (the terminal the electric current leaves through) offers high energy density, making the lithium-ion battery the most widely used power source. The problem, however, is that cobalt is both finite and expensive, and existing lithium-ion battery cathodes are comprised of more than 40 percent cobalt….