The short answer is no, according to the American Petroleum Institute. The API compared oil and gas to other industries in terms of profit margin and effective tax rate. The oil and gas industry-wide profit margin is 7.3%, which is lower than manufacturing (8.6%), computers and peripherals (9.7%), pharmaceuticals (16.0%) and beverage and tobacco
A Look at Two Approaches to Oil and Gas Regulation
This is a tale of two regulatory schemes.
First, there is the federal way, and I’m not making this up: In my last post we learned that if the BLM, when preparing its PRMP/FEIS (which in some incomprehensible way is different from a PRMP/EIS, but which nevertheless includes an RFD) which is issued by an
HOW MUCH CONSENSUS IS THERE ON GLOBAL WARMING?
This post is not from a global warming denier. But I do appreciate even-handed assessments of the situation. Here are two reports that fit the bill.
In the London Telegraph, Geoffrey Lean says that recent research suggests climate change might not be as catastrophic as the gloomiest forecasts. But he warns that it will
Who’s Against Fracking and What are They Saying?
“Science is my most favorite subject, especially the Old Testament.” Kenneth, 30 Rock
Keeping in mind the importance of science, technology, and transparency in evaluating the safety and reliability of fracking, let’s take a look at some of the leaders in the anti-fracking movement. The results are worthy of your attention.
Displaying an understanding of
What Can the Energy Industry Expect from Obama’s Second Term?
“It is better to stop a bad law than pass a good one.” Calvin Coolidge.
Is anybody in Washington listening to Silent Cal?
What can the energy industry (oil and gas in particular) expect from the Administration in its second term? Let’s gaze into the crystal ball:
Carbon Tax
“I’m From the Guvment . . .
. . . and I’m here to enforce the law and protect your natural resources . . . as long as it doesn’t interfere with my other agenda.
My October 10 post focused on criminal prosecutions and convictions of oil and gas operators in several states for violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It
What is the Best Way to Fight Rising Sea Levels?
For the purposes of this conversation let’s agree that global warming exists, and let’s not argue about whether it is, as those who use big words say, “anthropomorphic” “anthropogenic” or, as you and I might say, “man made”.
Bjorn Lomborg doesn’t focus so much on the causes of rising sea levels; he proposes alternative ways
EPA Planning to Ban Coal-Fired Power Plants?
According to a Sunday blog post by Conn Carroll in the Washington Examiner, the EPA is hurrying efforts to implement regulations that would ban coal-fired power plants before the end of the year, in fear that a loss by President Obama in Tuesday’s election would put an end to what would otherwise be on
EPA Region 6 Has New Administrator
Ron Curry is the EPA’s new administrator for Region 6, which is responsible for enforcement of federal environmental laws in Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Mr. Curry replaces Al “Crucify ’em” Armendariz, who was sacked earlier this year after comments, caught on video, in which he likened his tactics to the Romans of
Fracking is an Ally Against Global Warming
It is difficult to resist shameless promotion of natural gas, especially when to do so makes sense. Here is an article by Bjorn Lomborg, A Fracking Good Story . Mr Lomborg is is an adjunct professor at the Copenhagen Business School, and founder and director of the Copenhagen Consensus Center and is known as a