Subcommittee On Energy And Power News

Lifting the U.S. ban on oil exports would bolster energy security in Europe by allowing countries to find alternative sources, the Czech Republic ambassador to the United States told lawmakers considering a bill to do away with the trade restriction. "The larger the number of stable democracies among the world's exporters, the more robust the energy security of the Czech Republic and the European Union will be," Petr Gandalovic, the ambassador told the panel the House subcommittee on Energy and Power on Thursday. The country has worked to reduce its dependence on oil and gas from Russia, the top energy supplier to many Eastern European countries. A recently built oil pipeline connects the Czech Republic to the Italian port of Trieste via Germany.

U.S. Representative Joe Barton will introduce a bill on Tuesday to lift the 40-year ban on exports of crude oil, but the measure has almost no chance of passing due to lawmaker concerns about fuel prices and costs to refiners. Barton, a Republican from Texas, will introduce a bill to lift the export ban Congress passed in the 1970s after the Arab oil embargo led to fears of fuel shortages, an aide said. The lawmaker will introduce the measure ahead of a hearing later this week…

A House of Representatives panel will hold a hearing on Dec. 11 to explore whether a decades-old law that prohibits the export of crude oil makes sense in an era of domestic energy abundance. The House subcommittee on energy and power, chaired by Representative Ed Whitfield, will hone in on the 1975 Energy Policy and Conservation Act, drafted in response to the 1973 oil crisis. The law prohibited the export of most crude oil, created the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and Corporate Average Fuel Economy rules for cars and trucks, also known as CAFE standards.

The Subcommittee on Energy and Power today approved H.R. 6, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act, by a vote of 15 to 11. Authored by Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), the legislation would cut through the red tape blocking exports of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG). H.R. 6 grants immediate approval of complete export applications currently filed with the Department of Energy and modifies the process moving forward to ensure exports to our allies are no longer subject to unnecessary delays. The need for increased LNG exports has received considerable attention in the wake of the crisis in Ukraine and as Russia continues to leverage its energy resources against our allies. Exporting American natural gas would increase global competition, and passage of H.R.

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) will receive the 13th Annual Waterways Council, Inc. Leadership Service Awards on Wednesday evening, February 12, 2014 at the St. Regis Hotel in Washington, D.C. Senator Casey has served the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the Senate since 2007. He is a member of the Senate Finance Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth. He also serves on the Senate Committees on Health…

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Power, with Representative Jerry Costello (D-IL-12), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today filed the Waterways Are Vital for the Economy, Energy, Efficiency, and Environment Act of 2012 (WAVE4 Act) with bipartisan co-sponsorship. The Act aims to ensure safe, dependable, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable navigation on the U.S. inland waterway system. “Efficient and reliable transportation of goods on our inland waterways is essential to economic development, job creation, and remaining competitive in the global marketplace,” said Representative Whitfield.

In evidence to the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Energy and Power’s hearing, April 4th, regarding the “The American Energy Initiative”, Douglas-Westwood LLP’s Managing Director, Steve Kopits, gave dire warnings about the likely development of China’s future energy demand. “China’s oil demand will likely keep pressure on oil prices for the indefinite future,” said Kopits. “China consumes 10 million barrels of oil per day (mbpd) on global consumption of about 88 mbpd. On supply Kopits stated, “China’s conventional oil fields are mature.