Day: February 22, 2025

Average state tax rates for retail gasoline and diesel fuel nearly flat since July 2024

Energy News Beat  In-brief analysis February 21, 2025 Average state tax rates for retail gasoline and diesel fuel nearly flat since July 2024 Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, federal and state motor fuel taxes As of January 1, 2025, state taxes and fees on gasoline and diesel fuel averaged $0.33 per gallon (gal) of gasoline and […]

Exxon-Pioneer, Chevron-Hess Mergers Receive Conditional FTC Approvals

Energy News Beat Exxon Mobil Corporation’s XOM acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources was given the final approval by the U.S. regulatory body, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), on Jan. 17, 2025. In the same round of consolidation surrounding the U.S. oil and gas sector, the $53 billion merger between Chevron Corporation CVX and Hess Corporation HES was also approved […]

Petroleum liquids supply growth driven by non-OPEC+ countries in 2025 and 2026

Energy News Beat Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook, February 2025 Data values: Non-OPEC Petroleum and Other Liquids Production Note: The OPEC and OPEC+ data series reflect those countries participating in the OPEC+ agreement. OPEC members Iran, Libya, and Venezuela are exempt from the agreement. Years 2025 and 2026 are forecasts. We forecast that worldwide production […]

The cost of transporting coal to the U.S. electric power sector fell slightly in 2023

Energy News Beat Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-923, Power Plant Operations Report We released new data on the U.S. electric power sector’s coal transportation costs. The release incorporates final data for 2023 from Form EIA-923, which we collect from electric power plant owners and operators. The data release based on our Form EIA-923 includes tables with costs, in […]

Trump’s DOT Launches Audit Of California’s Bullet Train Boondoggle

Energy News Beat The Trump admin announced an audit of California’s high-speed rail, questioning $100B in additional costs, federal funding, and its future viability. ​ The Trump administration is launching an audit of California’s high-speed rail project, which is a decade late and expected to run $100 billion over budget without connecting San Francisco and […]

UK Electric Car Drivers Face £195 Road Tax Charge When Exemption Ends In April

Energy News Beat Motorists have been warned to expect a £195 ($247) charge if they own an electric vehicle as their current tax exemption is due to end April 1. ​ Owners of a certain type of vehicle have been advised to expect a letter warning that they will soon need to pay £195 ($247) […]

Trump’s Dismantling Of ‘Environmental Justice’ Offices Is Ticking Off Climate Activists

Energy News Beat The Trump admin has been dismantling ‘environmental justice’ offices in federal agencies, and climate activists are in a full-blown meltdown. ​ Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it began implementing Trump’s executive order “Ending Radial and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.” [emphasis, links added] The agency placed 171 employees […]

Now That Trump Is Done With Europe, Will Germany Step Up?

Energy News Beat That question has taken center stage in the German election. By Cameron Abadi, a deputy editor at Foreign Policy, and Adam Tooze, a columnist at Foreign Policy and director of the European Institute at Columbia University. Sign up for Adam’s Chartbook newsletter here.   Germany’s election campaign has focused on topics ranging […]

China’s crude oil imports decreased from a record as refinery activity slowed

Energy News Beat Data source: China General Administration of Customs, Bloomberg L.P. Slower oil demand growth in 2024 led to less crude oil processed by China’s refineries and fewer crude oil imports compared with the record high set in 2023. China, the world’s largest importer of crude oil, received 11.1 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2024, […]

Week Recap: Coal, BRICS, Tariffs & the Global Power Shift

Energy News Beat Weekly Daily Standup Top Stories The End of Coal Is Nowhere In Sight February 17, 2025 Clark Savage Retirement of coal-fired power plants in the West has done nothing to reverse global coal demand. Global coal consumption is set to remain at these high levels—or even hit new all-time highs—for a few more […] […]