oil

Compiled by x344543 - IWW Environmental Unionism Caucus, September 13, 2016

A supplement to Eco Unionist News:

Lead Stories:

• Peabody Energy’s Pathway Out Of Bankruptcy Leads … Backs To Bankruptcy, Says IEEFA - By Joshua S Hill , Clean Technica, September 8, 2016; [related]: As coal companies sink into bankruptcy, who will pay to clean up their old mines? - By David Roberts, Vox, September 2, 2016
• Frustration among out-of-work attendees at annual Labour Day BBQ - By Roberta Bell, CBC, September 5, 2016
• State of The Transition, August 2016: Tailwinds for clean energy and the Paris agreement, deepening doldrums for the incumbency - By Jeremy Leggett, Jeremy Leggett, September 4, 2016

Carbon Market Watch:

• Panic buying sees coking coal price jump 20% in a week - By Frik Els, Mining.Com, September 11, 2016
• South African mining output falls sharply - By Valentina Ruiz Leotaud, Mining.Com, September 11, 2016
• One Hundred Years of Natural Gas? Not At These Prices - By Art Berman, The Petroleum Truth Report, September 8, 2016
• Traders see low prices, more pain ahead for oil industry - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, September 8, 2016; [related]: Oil trims weekly gains as market discounts drop in inventories - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, September 9, 2016 | Oil climbs on report of inventory decline - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, September 8, 2016 | Oil, gasoline inventories plunge; crude prices rise - By Staff, FuelFix, September 8, 2016 | Oil advances as traders look to OPEC, Russia for signs of output freeze - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, September 7, 2016 | Market Currents: Production freeze hopes fizzle - By Matt Smith, FuelFix, September 6, 2016
• Global Coal Plant Pipeline Slows, According To CoalSwarm - By Joshua S Hill, Clean Technica, September 7, 2016

Other Carbon Bubble News:

• Norway's Wealth Fund Dumps Duke Energy Over 'Risk of Severe Environmental Damage' - By Donna Lisenby, EcoWatch, September 8, 2016
• The Energy-Water Nexus [25] - Jordan Macknick interviewed by Chris Nelder, The Energy Transition Show, September 7, 2016
• Great Lakes Region Pivots From Fossil Fuels - By Codi Kozacek, Circle of Blue, September 6, 2016
• Oil downturn ripples through city finances in New Mexico - By Morgan Lee, Associated Press, September 6, 2016
• Waiting for rebound, producers still looks at west coast for coal export potential - By Heather Richards, Casper Star Tribune, September 4, 2016

Utility Death Spiral News:

• NSW energy minister blames Basslink for SA price spikes - By Giles Parkinson, REnew Economy, September 9, 2016; [related]: Gas plants fingered again for South Australian power price hikes - By Giles Parkinson, REnew Economy, September 6, 2016
• Solar developer protests community solar size in Colorado Xcel settlement - By Robert Walton, Utility Dive, September 7, 2016
• New proposals from Iowa utilities raise red flags for solar advocates - By Karen Uhlenhuth, Midwest Energy News, September 6, 2016

For more green news, please visit our news feeds section on ecology.iww.org; Twitter #IWWEUC; Hashtags: #greenunionism #greensyndicalism #IWW. Please send suggested news items to include in this series to euc [at] iww.org.

Compiled by x344543 - IWW Environmental Unionism Caucus, September 7, 2016

A supplement to Eco Unionist News:

Lead Stories:

• The $8 Trillion Fight Over How to Rid America of Fossil Fuel - By Eric Roston, Bloomberg, August 30, 2016
• Mass protests by China’s coal, iron and steel workers on the decline - By staff, China Labour Bulletin, August 18, 2016

Carbon Market Watch:

• Oil ends slide on Putin freeze comments - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, September 2, 2016; [related]: OPEC output rises to record before talks with Russia on freeze - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, September 2, 2016 | Oil holds near lowest levels in three weeks - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, September 1, 2016 | Oil has worst day in almost a month; back below $45 - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, August 31, 2016 | Oil trades near $47 as gasoline inventories appear to have dipped - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, August 30, 2016 | Doubts linger over potential OPEC deal - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, August 29, 2016

Other Carbon Bubble News:

• QUT becomes first Queensland University to its dump fossil fuel investments - By 350.org, REnew Economy, September 5, 2016
• California nixes funding for coal export terminals - By Paige Blankenbuehler, High Country News, September 2, 2016
• India shelves coal mining target on weak demand - By Megan Darby, Climate Change News, September 2, 2016
• Petrobras sheds 11,704 workers in plan to save $1.2 billion - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, September 2, 2016
• Baker Hughes cuts employee pay 5 percent through furloughs - By Jordan Blum, FuelFix, September 1, 2016
• Canada’s Enbridge drops Sandpiper crude oil pipeline - By Cecilia Jamasmie, Mining.Com, September 1, 2016
• Caterpillar to close Belgium plant, lay off 2000 workers - By Cecilia Jamasmie, Mining.Com, September 1, 2016
• Over 3000 UK churches on way to ditching fossil fuels - By Ed King, Climate Change News, September 1, 2016
• Mass adoption of electric vehicles is “much sooner than most people realize” - By Andy Rowell, Oil Change International, August 31, 2016
• Canada’s mining industry faces workers shortage of up to 127,000 - By Cecilia Jamasmie, Mining.Com, August 30, 2016
• U.S. universities using less coal for heat, power - By David Hunn, FuelFix, August 30, 2016
• Solar power growing rapidly as prices tumble and tax credits are extended - By John Funk, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 27, 2016
• The Gilded Rage: A Conversation With a Trump Supporter That Will Surprise You - By Alexander Zaitchik, Alternet, August 22, 2016
• Old King Coal - By Dan Weissmann, WBEX 91.5 FM, June 22, 2016

Utility Death Spiral News:

• Back to school? Schools that have installed solar panels threatened with an unfair tax bill - By staff, The Ecologist, September 5, 2016
• A Battle Over Bringing Local Renewables To Rural Electric Co-ops - By Cally Carswell, Inside Energy, September 2, 2016
• Facing stricter climate goals, California passes 4 bills to boost energy storage - By Robert Walton, Utility Dive, September 2, 2016
• The graph that shows the death of traditional energy utilities - By Giles Parkinson, REnew Economy, September 2, 2016
• In 11th hour deal, California public utility reaches net metering compromise - By Robert Walton, Utility Dive, September 2, 2016
• The Climate Change Authority’s gamble on political pragmatism - By Frank Jotzo, The Conversation, September 1, 2016
• Nevada regulator blocks SolarCity from grandfathering proceedings - By Krysti Shallenberger, Utility Dive, September 1, 2016; [related]: SolarCity Barred From Intervening in Nevada Grandfathering Dockets - By Julia Pyper, GreenTechMedia, August 31, 2016
• 2 GW Of Colorado Wind Can Replace 6000 GWh Of Coal - By Aisha Abdelhamid, Clean Technica, September 1, 2016
• Florida votes to strike property taxes on solar panels - By Robert Walton, Utility Dive, August 31, 2016
• Wind Power Curtailment in China Expected to Increase in Second Half of 2016 -  By Liu Yuanyuan, Renewable Energy World, August 31, 2016
• Australia’s natural-gas cartel is bleeding Australia - By Bruce Robertson, REnew Economy, August 30, 2016
• New England’s Big Energy Switch - By Alisa Barba, Inside Energy, August 30, 2016
• New Hampshire Sticks With Solar Net Metering, Which Voters Support - By Peter Allen, Clean Technica, August 30, 2016
• No new solar! How network lobby imagines Australia’s clean energy transition - By Giles Parkinson, REnew Economy, August 30, 2016
• Solar groups pour money into Arizona utility regulatory election - By Peter Maloney, Utility Dive, August 30, 2016
• AEP Ohio wants to double fixed charges, joining net metering debate - By Robert Walton, Utility Dive, August 29, 2016
• Distributed Generation Under Fire (Q2 2016) - By Karlee Weinmann, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, August 29, 2016
• A Funny Thing Happening in the Race for Renewables - By Steve Hargreaves and Courtney St. John, Nexus Media, August 22, 2016

For more green news, please visit our news feeds section on ecology.iww.org; Twitter #IWWEUC; Hashtags: #greenunionism #greensyndicalism #IWW. Please send suggested news items to include in this series to euc [at] iww.org.

Compiled by x344543 - IWW Environmental Unionism Caucus, August 31, 2016

A supplement to Eco Unionist News:

Lead Stories:

• Whether Clinton or Trump wins the election, US coal’s future is dark - By Joe Goodwill, Mining.Com, August 26, 2016
• U.S. Electricity Generation From Renewables Has Broken Records Every Month in 2016 - By Mike Gaworecki, DeSmog Blog, August 25, 2016
• Cross currents hit Indian Government’s grand coal expansion plans - By Bob Burton, EndCoal, August 24, 2016
• Coal Lobbying Groups Losing Members as Industry Tumbles - By Zahra Hirji, InsideClimate News, August 23, 2016; [related]: King Coal is dethroned in the US – and that’s good news for the environment - By Lucas Davis, The Conversation, August 21, 2016
• Is the Oil Industry Dying? - By Richard Heinberg, Pacific Standard, August 10, 2016

Carbon Market Watch:

• Oil above $48 on OPEC freeze hopes - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, August 26, 2016; [related]: Oil inventories rebound, crude prices fall - By Jordan Blum, FuelFix, August 24, 2016 | Oil rebounds on speculation Iran might join output freeze - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, August 23, 2016 | Oil continues to slide on supply worries, OPEC doubts - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, August 23, 2016

Other Carbon Bubble News:

• Friday roundup - By Ken Ward Jr, Charleston Gazette-Mail, August 26, 2016
• Key Energy joins ranks of oil-related companies filing bankruptcy - By David Hunn, FuelFix, August 25, 2016
• Really, Hoppy? ‘Blood money’? - By Ken Ward Jr, Charleston Gazette-Mail, August 25, 2016
• Gov. Matt Mead tells state agencies to brace for more cuts - By Ben Neary, Associated Press, August 24, 2016
• Putting politics ahead of helping the coalfields - By Ken Ward Jr, Charleston Gazette-Mail, August 24, 2016
• Glencore posts worst half-yearly profit since listing in London - By Cecilia Jamasmie, Mining.Com, August 23, 2016
• Keep it in the ground! Just how much exactly? - By Yossi Cadan, Fossil Free, August 23, 2016
• Official rejects overdue Peabody tax payment that shorted Routt County more than $91,000 - By Kevin Simpson, Denver Post, August 19, 2016
• Gov: Legislative session for budget likely next month - By Matthew Reichbach, The New Mexico Political Report, August 18, 2016; [related]: New Mexico governor to call special legislative session - By staff, Associated Press, August 18, 2016
• How a US energy company tried to sell its failing ‘clean coal’ project to the world - By Zachary Davies Boren, Greenpeace Energydesk, August 11, 2016

Utility Death Spiral News:

• ACCC says it’s OK for big utilities to exploit market power - By Giles Parkinson, REnew Economy, August 25, 2016; [related]: Five years to zero emissions – Australia’s climate reality check - By Giles Parkinson, REnew Economy, August 24, 2016 | Gas bubble looms as energy ministers baulk at zero emissions target - By Giles Parkinson, REnew Economy, August 22, 2016
• Colorado Settlement to Pay Solar Owners Higher Rates for Peak Power - By Bob Berwyn, InsideClimate News, August 24, 2016
• Fixed charge battle looms in Texas as regulators tackle rate design reform - By Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive, August 23, 2016
• Solar Cost Hits World's New Low, Half the Price of Coal - By Climate Nexus, EcoWatch, August 22, 2016; [related]: BNEF: Chile auction set to deliver world's lowest cost solar farm - By staff, Business Green, August 22, 2016 | Solar Sold in Chile at Lowest Ever, Half Price of Coal - By Vanessa Dezem, Bloomberg, August 19, 2016

For more green news, please visit our news feeds section on ecology.iww.org; Twitter #IWWEUC; Hashtags: #greenunionism #greensyndicalism #IWW. Please send suggested news items to include in this series to euc [at] iww.org.

Compiled by x344543 - IWW Environmental Unionism Caucus, August 24, 2016

A supplement to Eco Unionist News:

Lead Stories:

• Is Big Oil Finally Getting the Message? - By Peter Smith, Sierra Club Canada, August 17, 2016
• Trumpism: Made in the United States by Republican Hate and Democratic Hypocrisy - By Paul Street, Truthdig, August 16, 2016
• China may be entering “post-coal growth.” But don’t get too excited - By David Roberts, Vox, August 15, 2016
• Who owns the wind? We do, Wyoming says, and it's taxing those who use it - By William Yardley, Los Angeles Times, August 14, 2016

Carbon Market Watch:

• Oil rally continues; Brent rises to $50 - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, August 18, 2016; [related]: WTI settles up at $46.79 - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, August 17, 2016 | Oil trades near $46 as Nigerian oil chief sees OPEC cuts unlikely - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, August 16, 2016

Other Carbon Bubble News:

• King Coal Is Losing Its Lobbying Edge - By Kate Sheppard, Huffington Post, August 17, 2016; [related]: Coal Lobbying Loses Steam As Climate Awareness Rises - By Sandy Dechert, Clean Technica, August 22, 2016 | Coal lobbyists are the loneliest lobbyists - By Melissa Cronin, Grist, August 16, 2016
• Bankrupt coal companies get break on clean-up costs - By Scott Tong, Marketplace, August 18, 2016
• New fuel efficiency standards whittle away at oil demand - By staff, FuelFix, August 17, 2016
• Another reason to divest from oil companies: They rip off shareholders - By Ben Adler, Grist, August 16, 2016
• U.S. coal regulator boosts campaign to fix 'outdated' cleanup rules - By Tracy Rucinski, Reuters, August 16, 2016; [related]: Feds Propose Stricter Regs For Coal Mine Cleanup - By Stephanie Joyce, Wyoming Public Radio, August 16, 2016
• Why North Dakota Coal Is The Last Man Standing - By Amy Sisk, Inside Energy, August 15, 2016

Utility Death Spiral News:

• Starting Over [24] - Jim Kennerly interviewed by Chris Nelder, The Energy Transition Show, August 24, 2016
• Why Democratized Rooftop & Community Solar Is So Important - By Zachary Shahan, Clean Technica, August 21, 2016
• Analysis Finds Wind Could Replace 6,000 Gigawatt-Hours of Coal in Colorado - By Ron Lehr, GreenTech Media, August 19, 2016
• El Paso Electric drops solar demand charge proposal - By Danielle Ola, PV Tech, August 19, 2016
• Arrium’s requiem and the events of July 7th - By Mike Sandiford, The Conversation, August 18, 2016; [related]: COAG energy council meeting a missed opportunity to grow renewables: Vic holding firm on gas pressure - By Leigh Ewbank, Yes2Renewables, August 19, 2016 | Community members push back against fossil fuel scare campaign: Call for COAG to stand up for renewables - By Leigh Ewbank, Yes2Renewables, August 19, 2016 | Dirty power games: Coalition steps on the gas - By Giles Parkinson, REnew Economy, August 19, 2016 | Fiddling the books on renewables while the planet burns - By Christine Milne, REnew Economy, August 18, 2016 | How gas profited from S.A. market dominance, and blamed renewables - By Andrew Stock, REnew Economy, August 18, 2016 | Message to COAG: Stand up to fossil fuel bullies with 100% renewables plan - By Leigh Ewbank, Yes2Renewables, August 18, 2016 | Fossil fuel industry holding Australian economy to ransom - By Giles Parkinson, REnew Economy, August 17, 2016 | Time to ditch the “dumb” grid and embrace a smart energy future - By Tom Quinn, REnew Economy, August 17, 2016
• Sun burn: Solar tax credits scorch state budgets - By Peter Maloney, Utility Dive, August 17, 2016
• An electric-power giant is poised to fail - By Steve Hanley, High Country News, August 16, 2016
• Arizona regulator, attorney battle over alleged ties with solar industry - By Krysti Shallenberger, Utility Dive, August 16, 2016
• Big Wins For Solar Power In Arizona & New Mexico - By Steve Hanley, Solar Love, August 13, 2016

For more green news, please visit our news feeds section on ecology.iww.org; Twitter #IWWEUC; Hashtags: #greenunionism #greensyndicalism #IWW. Please send suggested news items to include in this series to euc [at] iww.org.

By Greg Muttitt and David Whyte - Red Pepper, August 2016

The anti-war demonstration in London on 15 February 2003 was the biggest protest in British history. And probably the most popular slogan on the placards and banners that day was ‘No blood for oil’. It was a connection that seemed obvious to many on the march but was repeatedly ridiculed by supporters of the invasion of Iraq. Tony Blair said that ‘the oil conspiracy theory is honestly one of the most absurd when you analyse it.’

Why is it so easy to dismiss the idea that access to oil and the interests of those who profit from it may be part of the motive for war? Why, given our experience of wars though the ages, is this not the first question we ask? After all, as the celebrated General Smedley Butler famously observed after completing numerous military campaigns on behalf of the nascent US empire: ‘War is a racket. It always has been.’

By the standards of an official inquiry, Chilcot’s was utterly damning of a government that took the country to war without justification. But compared to the evidence Chilcot had, his conclusions were mild, because the questions he asked were limited. In particular, while noting that there was no convincing case for WMD, even at the time, Chilcot failed to ask how other political and economic motivations affected decisions.

Was it a war for oil?

A year after the February 2003 demonstration, an international opinion poll conducted by US think tank, the Pew Research Centre, asked sample populations from nine countries (the US, Britain, Russia, France, Germany, Pakistan, Turkey, Morocco and Jordan) about the ‘war on terrorism’. The majority in all but two countries (the US and Britain) thought it was ‘to control Mideast oil’. It is worth underlining that the question was not just asking about the invasion of Iraq, but about the motive for a war on terrorism full stop.

When it comes to the Iraq war, they were right. Evidence released with the report shows unequivocally that using Iraqi oil to boost British energy supplies was a central pre-war aim. A February 2002 Cabinet Office paper described the UK’s objectives as ‘preserving peace and stability in the Gulf and ensuring energy security‘. Right up to the withdrawal of British troops in 2009, successive British strategy documents, also released by Chilcot, maintain two consistent objectives: transfer the oil sector from public ownership to multinationals, and ensure that BP and Shell get a large share. Sometimes a third oil objective appears: to make Iraq an advocate of low oil prices within OPEC.

Compiled by x344543 - IWW Environmental Unionism Caucus, August 17, 2016

A supplement to Eco Unionist News:

Lead Stories:

• Coal Companies Have Mined An Area The Size Of NYC, Now They Have To Clean It Up - By Stephanie Joyce, Wyoming Public Radio, August 13, 2016
• Selling T-shirts, lies, anger to miners left without jobs, hope - By Gary Bentley, Lexington Herald-Leader, August 13, 2016
• Coal isn’t the only fossil fuel in trouble, Rice researcher says - By  David Hunn, FuelFix, August 12, 2016
• The solar transition - By staff, The Next Wave, August 12, 2016; [related]: Climate science: revolution is here - By Paul Rogers, Open Democracy, August 11, 2016
• Bob Murray: MSHA inspections ‘total harassment’ - By Ken Ward Jr, Charleston Gazette-Mail, August 11, 2016
• Oil trades near 1-week low after U.S. stockpiles rise - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, August 11, 2016
• [related]: Ending $4 billion U.S. oil subsidy would have minor impact, report says - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, August 8, 2016

Other Carbon Bubble News:

• China doesn’t need any more coal plants - By Fu Sha and Zou Ji, Climate Change News, August 12, 2016
• The view from Canada: ‘The industry is in a tough position’ - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, August 12, 2016; [related]: Canada’s oil industry not likely to rebound by end of decade: report - By Tania Kohut, Global News, August 4, 2016
• Christy Clark holds fast to market fundamentalism as LNG dreams crumble - By Harjap Grewal, Rabble.Ca, August 11, 2016
• Court upholds Obama's social cost of carbon accounting for federal regulations - By Robert Walton, Utility Dive, August 11, 2016
• How a US energy company tried to sell its failing ‘clean coal’ project to the world - By Zachary Davies Boren, Greenpeace, August 11, 2016
• IEA says global oil demand growth could sink - By Collin Eaton, FuelFix, August 11, 2016
• Oregon Finds Switching From Coal to Renewable Energy Is a Bargain - By John R. Platt, Take Part, August 11, 2016
• Chesapeake Energy leaving Barnett, birthplace of shale revolution - By Collin Eaton, FuelFix, August 10, 2016
• Peabody Energy Lenders Accept Miner’s Business Plan - By Dow Jones Newswires, Denver Post, August 10, 2016
• Saudi Arabia reports record output on summer demand - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, August 10, 2016
• Trump keeps pandering to the coal miners - By Ken Ward Jr, Charleston Gazette-Mail, August 10, 2016
• Oil services firms face $110B in debt — and the bill is coming due - By Collin Eaton, FuelFix, August 9, 2016
• Kosmos Energy announces $108.3 million net loss for second quarter 2016 - By staff, Oil Voice, August 8, 2016
• Tesla Motors vs. Fossil Fuels: An electrifying showdown - By Matt Pressman, EV Annex, August 7, 2016

Utility Death Spiral News:

• Australian energy markets have echoes of Enron crisis in California - By Giles Parkinson, REnew Economy, August 15, 2016; [related]: SA power prices inflated by generators gaming market, says report - By Sophie Vorrath, REnew Economy, August 11, 2016 | South Australia would face higher electricity bill without wind energy - By Giles Parkinson, REnew Economy, August 9, 2016
• Japan's big 'nuclear restart' overtaken by conservation and renewables - By Jim Green, The Ecologist, August 12, 2016
• New Mexico settlement blocks solar fees proposed by Xcel Energy - By Robert Walton, Utility Dive, August 12, 2016; [related]: Big Victory for Solar Energy in New Mexico - By Earthjustice, EcoWatch, August 11, 2016
• Arizona regulators preserve net metering in UNS case - By Christian Roselund, PV Magazine, August 11, 2016; [related]: Big Win for Arizona Solar Customers - By Earthjustice, EcoWatch, August 12, 2016
• California Has More Solar Power Than You Think—a Lot More - By Bentham Paulos, GreenTechMedia, August 11, 2016
• Facts and Falsehoods in Energy Transition [23] - Dr Jonathan Koomey interviewed by Chris Nelder, The Energy Transition Show, August 10, 2016
• In Corporate March to Clean Energy, Utilities Not Required - By Jan Ellen Spiegel, InsideClimate News, August 8, 2016
• Is Solar Energy Really Too Expensive? - By Jill Richardson, Other Words, August 3, 2016

For more green news, please visit our news feeds section on ecology.iww.org; Twitter #IWWEUC; Hashtags: #greenunionism #greensyndicalism #IWW. Please send suggested news items to include in this series to euc [at] iww.org.

Compiled by x344543 - IWW Environmental Unionism Caucus, August 10, 2016

A supplement to Eco Unionist News:

Lead Stories:

• Oil and natural gas production jobs in May were 26% lower than in October 2014 - By Robert McManmon, OilVoice, August 5, 2016
• Oil majors’ debt balloons as energy slump persists - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, August 5, 2016; [related]: How will industry respond after oil’s fall below $40? - By staff, FuelFix, August 3, 2016 | Oil prices flat after two-day rally - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, August 5, 2016 | ‘The days of $100 oil are gone.’ So what’s next? - By staff, FuelFix, August 2, 2016 | Oil rises after its dip below $40 a barrel - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, August 2, 2016 | Oil settles below $40 for the first time since April - By staff, FuelFix, August 2, 2016 | Growing oil glut shows investors there’s nowhere to go but down - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, August 1, 2016 | Oil prices continue to slide - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, August 1, 2016 | Oil settles above $40 a barrel after falling below threshold in intraday trading - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, August 1, 2016
• State of The Transition, July 2016: Might the fossil fuel industries implode faster than the clean energy industries can grow to replace them? - By Jeremy Leggett, Jeremy Leggett Blog, August 3, 2016
• Today’s Downturn Sets Markets Up For A Dramatic Oil Price Spike - By Nick Cunningham, OilPrice.Com, August 2, 2016
• Hydrocarbons and the Illusion of Sustainability - By Kent A. Klitgaard, Monthly Review, July-August 2016

Other Carbon Bubble News:

• Bankrupt coal company execs want huge bonuses — but can they clean up after themselves? - By staff, Western Priorities, August 5, 2016; [related]: Bankrupt coal miner Peabody proposes $11.9 million in executive bonuses - By Tracy Rucinski, Reuters, August 4, 2016
• Synergy Resources announces second quarter 2016 net loss of $153.8 million - By staff, OilVoice, August 5, 2016
• Chesapeake misses estimates as gas field writedowns mount - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, August 4, 2016
• Dynegy posts loss while preparing for Texas growth - By Jordan Blum, FuelFix, August 4, 2016
• More bad news for copper price - By Frik Els, Mining.Com, August 4, 2016
• W&T Offshore warns of potential bankruptcy after $121 million loss - By Jordan Blum, FuelFix, August 4, 2016
• Crude-by-rail volumes to the East Coast are declining - By Arup Mallik, OilVoice, August 3, 2016; [related]: Crude-oil train movements down 45% this year - By Andrew Maykuth, Philadelphia Inquirer, August 3, 2016
• Hunger strike pushes South Korea to defer coal plant plan - By Bob Burton, EndCoal, August 3, 2016
• Noble Energy sells record amount of oil — but not at a profit - By David Hunn, FuelFix, August 3, 2016
• Occidental swings to loss in 2nd quarter from year earlier - By David Hunn, FuelFix, August 3, 2016
• Solar Beats Out Coal In UK For 2nd Whole Month Ever - By Joshua S Hill, Clean Technica, August 3, 2016
• Coal Glut, Environmental Pushback Derail West Coast Port Plans - By Timothy Puko and Erica E. Phillips, Wall Street Journal, August 1, 2016
• LNG Investments At Serious Risk If China Succeeds On Shale - By Charles Kennedy, Network for Oil & Gas Accountability and Protection, August 1, 2016
• Wyoming’s ‘clean coal’ plans stir false hopes - By Sandy Buchanan, Last Best News, July 29, 2016
• Two Towns Battle Colorado for Freedom to Ban Fracking - By Kate Stringer, YES! Magazine, July 28, 2016
• US to speed oil, gas permits amid sharp drop in applications - By Matthew Brown, Associated Press, July 28, 2016
• Stuttgart pulls out of fossil fuels - By Melanie Mattauch, Fossil Free, July 20, 2016

Utility Death Spiral News:

• South Australia signalling the death of base-load generation - By Giles Parkinson, REnewEconomy, August 8, 2016; [related]: The solution to Australia’s gas crisis is not more gas - By Alan Pears, The Conversation, August 3, 2016
• Warren Buffett Wins: Elon Musk's Ballot Referendum Blocked by Nevada Supreme Court - By Climate Nexus, EcoWatch, August 5, 2016; [related]: Nevada Supreme Court Blocks Rooftop Solar Referendum - By Julia Pyper, Greentech Media, August 8, 2016 | Nevada Court Rejects Solar Power Ballot Initiative As ‘Inaccurate’ And ‘Misleading’ - By Samantha Page, Think Progress, August 5, 2016 | Nevada Supreme Court rejects net metering ballot proposal - By Krysti Shallenberger, Utility Dive, August 5, 2016 | Nevada Supreme Court rejects rooftop solar referendum - By Danielle Ola, PV-Tech, August 5, 2016 | Future of Nevada solar ballot petition unclear after state Supreme Court hearing - By Robert Walton, Utility Dive, August 1, 2016
• What happens when 1GW of coal capacity suddenly disappears - By Giles Parkinson, REnew Economy, August 4, 2016
• Big coal generators still fear renewables, despite gas boost - By Sophie Vorrath, REnew Economy, August 2, 2016
• Energy companies are dead already, they just haven’t realised it - By Leon Bateman, REnew Economy, August 2, 2016
• 5 Charts That Illustrate The Remarkable LED Lighting Revolution - By Joe Romm, Think Progress, August 2, 2016
• Have we massively underestimated the battery storage market? - By Nigel Morris, REnew Economy, August 2, 2016
• 'It's just wrong': Thousands in limbo as Louisiana's solar tax credits dwindle - By Jennifer Larino, Times-Picayune, August 2, 2016

For more green news, please visit our news feeds section on ecology.iww.org; Twitter #IWWEUC; Hashtags: #greenunionism #greensyndicalism #IWW. Please send suggested news items to include in this series to euc [at] iww.org.

Compiled by x344543 - IWW Environmental Unionism Caucus, August 2, 2016

A supplement to Eco Unionist News:

Lead Stories:

• The Price Rally Is Over: Capital Drives the Oil Market to Low Prices - By Art Berman, The Petroleum Truth Report, July 27, 2016
• Oil falls to three-month low - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, July 27, 2016; [related]: Oil Falls to Three-Month Low as Surplus Withstands Supply Drop - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, July 26, 2016
• The triple bust: Why oil, gas and coal faltered together - By Heather Richards, Casper Star Tribune, July 24, 2016
• Distress in the oil and gas industry: What happened to the price of oil? - By Debbie Young and Ben Davies, DLA Piper, July 22, 2016
• Oil Is Facing The Perfect Storm - By Cassandra Legacy, OilPrice.com, July 14, 2016

Other Carbon Bubble News:

• Chevron posts $1.5 billion loss in second quarter - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, July 29, 2016; [related]: Chevron reports second quarter loss of $1.5 billion - By staff, OilVoice, July 29, 2016
• Exxon profits plunge nearly 60 percent; lowest since 1999 - By David Hunn, FuelFix, July 29, 2016
• Phillips 66 2nd-quarter profit falls by 50 percent - By Jordan Blum, FuelFix, July 29, 2016
• Baker Hughes cut 3,000 jobs amid $911 million 2nd-quarter loss - By Jordan Blum, FuelFix, July 28, 2016
• ConocoPhillips loss widens as oil prices stay low - By David Hunn, FuelFix, July 28, 2016; [related]: ConocoPhillips reports second-quarter 2016 net loss of $1.1 billion - By Staff, OilVoice, July 28, 2016
• National Oilwell Varco swings to loss - By David Hunn, FuelFix, July 28, 2016
• Shell earnings plunge to 11-year low - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, July 28, 2016
• Alpha Sells Wyoming Mines To Newly-Formed Company - By Stephanie Joyce, Wyoming Public Media, July 27, 2016; [related]: Alpha emerges from bankruptcy - By Ken Ward Jr, Charleston Gazette-Mail, July 26, 2016
• Coal Dependent School Budgets In Crisis - By Ann Marie Awad, Inside Energy, July 27, 2016
• Life After Coal: One Miner’s Story - By Stephanie Joyce, Inside Energy, July 27, 2016
• Peabody Reaches Deal With Regulators On Outstanding Reclamation Obligations - By Stephanie Joyce, Inside Energy, July 27, 2016; [related]: Advocates gain some ground in Peabody self-bonding fight - By Kari Lydersen, Midwest Energy News, July 26, 2016
• Statoil swings to loss, slashes spending - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, July 27, 2016
• Tourism Could Save a Uintah Basin Town - By Aimee Cobabe, Utah Public Radio, July 27, 2016
• Weatherford loses $565M despite massive job cuts - By Jordan Blum, FuelFix, July 27, 2016
• Anadarko posts $700 million loss; and that’s an improvement - By David Hunn, FuelFix, July 26, 2016
• BP 2nd-quarter earnings fall 45 percent - By Brian Rausch, FuelFix, July 26, 2016
• Can Trump save coal and support natural gas? - By Ken Ward Jr, Charleston Gazette-Mail, July 26, 2016
• CONSOL sells last of West Virginia mines - By Ken Ward Jr, Charleston Gazette-Mail, July 26, 2016
• New Mexico governor may reconvene Legislature due to budget crunch - By Associated Press, KOB TV NBC 4, July 26, 2016; [related]: NM State Land Office reports 32 percent drop in revenues - By staff, MRT.Com, July 25, 2016
• Valero’s profits tumble 40 percent in 2nd quarter - By staff, FuelFix, July 26, 2016

Utility Death Spiral News:

• Mythbusting: Electricity prices in South Australia - By Andrew Stock, RenewEconomy, August 1, 2016; [related]: Today Tonight’s misleading report on renewables in South Australia - By Sophie Vorrath and Giles Parkinson, RenewEconomy, July 29, 2016; | Frydenberg says renewables not to blame for South Australia energy “crisis” - By Giles Parkinson, RenewEconomy, July 28, 2016 | Attack on renewables fatuous, misleading and ideological - By Giles Parkinson, RenewEconomy, July 27, 2016 | SA renewables frame-up covers for fossil fuels electricity prices heist - By Ben Courtice, Yes2Renewables, July 26, 2016
• Solar, wind, storage and big data: Why energy may soon be free - By Giles Parkinson, RenewEconomy, August 1, 2016
• Australia’s renewable energy policy is short sighted and creating problems - By Giles Parkinson, RenewEconomy, July 28, 2016
• Distributed Generation Is On The Verge Of Disrupting The Power Sector, Says Lux Research - By Joshua S Hill, Clean Technica, July 28, 2016
• Nevada Utility Continues Rooftop Solar War, Opposes Net Metering - By Climate Denier Roundup, EcoWatch, July 28, 2016
• Can Economics Guide the Energy Transition? [22] - Ed Crooks interviewed by Chris Nelder, The Energy Transition Show, July 27, 2016
• Solar Energy Consuming Coal’s UK Market Share - By James Ayre, Clean Technica, July 27, 2016
• When Solar & Wind Prices Are “Too Low” And Solar & Wind Power “Too Dominant” - By Zachary Shahan, Clean Technica, July 27, 2016
• Lawsuit Against FERC Alleges New Rules For Capacity Resources Put Undue Burden On Renewables - By James Ayre, Clean Technica, July 26, 2016
• LePage Proposes End to Solar Net Metering Program - By Fred Bever, Maine Public Broadcasting, July 25, 2016; [related]: Maine's governor proposes an end to net metering - By Peter Maloney, Utility Dive, July 27, 2016

For more green news, please visit our news feeds section on ecology.iww.org; Twitter #IWWEUC; Hashtags: #greenunionism #greensyndicalism #IWW. Please send suggested news items to include in this series to euc [at] iww.org.

Greg Muttitt - Oil Change International, July 26, 2016

Today 400 workers on Shell platforms in the UK North Sea went on strike. On behalf of our more than 100,000 supporters, Oil Change International stands in solidarity with these workers.

The striking workers are employed by Wood Group, a contractor to Shell and one of the largest service companies in the North Sea. After two rounds of layoffs, Wood Group sought to unilaterally impose pay cuts of up to 30%, added an additional four to five weeks’ work annually, extended work shifts, and imposed restrictive new limitations on leave. The Unite and RMT trade unions both voted overwhelmingly to go on strike against these harmful changes in pay and conditions.

Oil companies have long ridden roughshod over workers, communities, and the environment. At Oil Change International, we see the fight for fair treatment of oil workers as a critical part of the wider global struggle for responsible, just, and clean energy production.

Everyone has the right to safe working conditions and fair pay. The drop in the oil price is no excuse for highly profitable fossil fuel companies to pass the costs onto workers. As Unite Regional Officer John Boland put it, “For decades, oil and gas companies across the North Sea have made hay while the sun shone and become very profitable on the back of the hard work and dedication of our members. Now that the weather has turned for the industry, they are using the downturn to attack the pay, terms, and conditions of our members.”

We continue to strive for a future in which energy industry workers enjoy decent and stable jobs in a clean energy economy, and are not tied to the profiteering whims of Big Oil. We wish the striking workers every success in holding Wood Group to account and demanding a fair deal.

Compiled by x344543 - IWW Environmental Unionism Caucus, July 27, 2016

A supplement to Eco Unionist News:

Lead Stories:

• Oil heads back to $30/bbl and probably lower - By Paul Hodges, ICIS, July 25, 2016; [related]: Oil falls to 2-month low as drilling increases - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, July 25, 2016 | Oil heads for weekly loss amid sustained glut - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, July 22, 2016 | Oil at near 2-month low after U.S. inventories rise - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, July 21, 2016
• Coal jobs will decline with or without federal regulations - By Paige Blankenbuehler, High Country News, July 21, 2016
• ‘Brexit’ leads to oil-field shutdowns in North Sea - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, July 19, 2016
• Dispatch from coal country: Advocates and adversaries duel over leasing reform - By Paige Blankenbuehler, High Country News, July 19, 2016
• Many laid-off oil field workers have left industry behind, survey finds - By Collin Eaton, FuelFix, July 19, 2016; [related]: The high cost of layoffs, for workers and companies - By staff, FuelFix, July 25, 2016

Other Carbon Bubble News:

• Gasoline prices likely to continue their decline - By Jordan Blum, FuelFix, July 25, 2016
• Shell to cut 25 percent of deep-water Gulf jobs - By Collin Eaton, FuelFix, July 25, 2016
• ConocoPhillips to shed 1,000 jobs - By Collin Eaton, FuelFix, July 21, 2016
• Bankruptcy Judge Rules Self-Bonding Challenge Can Move Forward - By David Jakubiak, Environmental Law and Policy Center, July 20, 2016; [related]: After court approval, questions linger on Alpha's future - By Heather Richards, Casper Star Tribune, July 17, 2016
• Federal coal leasing needs a major overhaul - By Dan Bucks, High Country News, July 19, 2016
• North Dakota coal plant shuttered over low energy prices - By Robert Walton, Utility Dive, July 19, 2016
• Oil holds near $45 a barrel - By Rob Gavin, FuelFix, July 19, 2016
• Drillers betting that oil rally won’t last - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, July 18, 2016
• Oil falls after failed Turkey coup - By Bloomberg, FuelFix, July 18, 2016
• Offshore workers in Wood Group show overwhelming support for strike action - By staff, Unite the Union, July 13, 2016; [related]: Wood Group Dispute - By staff, RMT, July 13, 2016
• A big Northwest clean air victory: 2 old coal plants will be phased out - By Joel Connelly, Seattle Post Intelligencer, July 12, 2016

Utility Death Spiral News:

• Residential solar boom in Utah raises concerns over incentives - By Peter Maloney, Utility Dive, July 25, 2016
• Utilities Ignore Millennials At Their Peril - By Greentech Media, Breaking Energy, July 25, 2016
• Why fossil fuel industry needs South Australia “experiment” to fail - By Giles Parkinson, REnew Economy, July 25, 2016; [related]: Why gas prices jumped to record levels, and 3,200MW of coal went offline - By Giles Parkinson, REnew Economy, July 20, 2016
• The duck is safely afloat in California - By Craig Morris, REnew Economy, July 21, 2016

For more green news, please visit our news feeds section on ecology.iww.org; Twitter #IWWEUC; Hashtags: #greenunionism #greensyndicalism #IWW. Please send suggested news items to include in this series to euc [at] iww.org.