-A new study released by the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA) revealed the petroleum industry contributes $113 billion in economic value to California — 5.4% of the state’s GDP. WSPA notes that number is larger than the economies of 16 U.S. states.
-An Associated Press story examines the growing support for fracking among construction unions in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. The mid-Atlantic head of the Laborers’ International Union is quoted as saying the drilling boom has provided a “lifeline” for families in the region, which suffered economic hardship as a result of the steel industry’s decline in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
-A study by the journal Nature Climate Change revealed biofuels made from corn residue release 7% more greenhouse gases than conventional gasoline over the short term. Via the Associated Press, the study said corn residue fuels are better over the long term, but they will not qualify as a renewable fuel as defined by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
-Alaska’s legislature approved a measure that allows the state to partner with BP, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and TransCanada on the Alaska LNG Project. The state would own 25% of the project, which is expected to produce between 16 million and 18 million tons of LNG per year. The project now enters the preliminary front-end engineering and design stage, and a final investment decision is expected in 2019.
-The EPA is on track to release new draft emission standards for existing power plants by June 1. The agency issued a statement affirming the timeline after an EPA official on Thursday said the rules would come later in the month.
