-The Department of Energy has granted Dominion Energy permission to export natural gas from its Cove Point LNG terminal on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Dominion began constructing the facility in October after receiving approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. It is expected to start up in 2017.
-Tesoro today said it would push back its proposed railport project in Washington to next year due to a “painfully slow” government review process. Via Reuters, the $190 million, 360,000-barrel-per-day project would be the biggest in the U.S. The facility would move oil from the U.S. and Canada to the Port of Vancouver, where it would then be delivered to West Coast refineries. Tesoro initially hoped to start up the railport in late 2014.
-The Louisiana State Police on Wednesday released a report on the April 2 fire at a biofuel complex in Geismar that injured two men. Via the Baton Rouge, La., Advocate, the police said a leaking pump that burst into flames had undergone regular maintenance and was being put through startup procedures when it caught fire. Renewable Energy Group CEO Dan Oh said his company’s internal investigation so far does not indicate a cause within the biodiesel production process. The company said the investigation and the repair of the plant will take three more months.
-Phillips 66 and ConocoPhillips will pay $11.5 million as part of a settlement over alleged improper storage of gasoline at fueling stations in California. Via the San Francisco Appeal, state Attorney General Kamala Harris said the companies failed to properly operate and maintain underground storage tanks, threatening nearby water supplies. Phillips 66 and ConocoPhillips have since sold all of their interests in the underground storage tank sites.
-Workers at Axiall’s chemical plant in Longview, Texas, on Thursday voted to join a local chapter of the International Chemical Workers Union Council. Via The Daily News, the workers approached the union several months ago expressing concern about work rules and job benefits. The group will start negotiating for a new contract after selecting members to represent them, the union said.
