State Dept. could potentially find new route for Keystone XL

While the Obama administration deals with massive protests, including thousands of people surrounding the White House earlier this week, the State Department is apparently considering the possibility of rerouting the pipeline around the most environmentally sensitive areas.
Reuters reports:

The State Department is considering rerouting TransCanada Corp.’s proposed

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Florida lawmakers refused to accept money for cancer control programs

Among the long list of federal health grants the state has shunned in the past year was a small award that would have “reduced the burden of cancer.”

A spokesperson for the Florida Department of Health tells The Florida Independent that budget authority was denied for a competitive grant More…

Federal agency okays mining on pristine forest land

The United States Forest Service (USFS) Tuesday gave the green light to a 1,700-acre expansion of the West Elk coal mine 10 miles east of Paonia on Colorado’s Western Slope.

West Elk owner Arch Coal, based in St. Louis, Mo., praised the decision for its job-saving potential. Environmental groups More…

Oil and gas industry using military psyops techniques to reduce opposition to fracking

First there was Talisman Energy’s “Joe Camel” moment with Terry the Fracking Dinosaur – a clumsy oil and gas industry attempt to win young hearts and minds over to hydraulic fracturing. Now come revelations of actual psychological operations aimed at breaking adult resistance to fracking.

EPA will require oil and gas companies to disclose release of hydrogen sulfide

UT study: No direct tie between fracking and groundwater contamination

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin say there’s no evidence of a direct link between hydraulic fracturing and groundwater contamination, but the controversial production method does come with more contamination risks on the surface.

Groups pressure supercommittee on energy subsidies

The Congressional deficit reduction “supercommittee” that has been charged with finding $1.5 trillion in budget savings by Thanksgiving could save billions by eliminating tax breaks and subsidies for oil and gas companies, which advocacy groups from across the ideological spectrum support, but energy companies are battling to keep their good More…

Perry-supporting super PAC begins ad buy in Iowa

A super-PAC backing GOP presidential candidate and Texas Gov. Rick Perry has begun buying ads in the Des Moines TV market, while Perry himself is continuing a media blitz in the Hawkeye State that began in late October.

Fracking may be to blame for Oklahoma earthquakes

Another swarm of earthquakes in an unusual part of the country has generated aftershocks of debate about whether the oil and gas drilling process called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is to blame.

Will Obama wait until after 2012 for Keystone XL decision?

Given the political danger in making a decision — any decision — about the Keystone XL pipeline going into an election year, some observers think President Obama is likely to delay a final decision on the project until after the 2012 election.