WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Thursday will propose a tax break for commercial trucks that run on natural gas, building on his promise to support U.S. shale gas development, senior administration officials said.

In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Obama acknowledged the nation’s booming natural gas sector, which has grown dramatically in recent years as advances in technology have unlocked vast reserves of shale oil and gas.

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Tuesday pledged support for the nation’s shale gas boom, but reiterated that government must focus on safe development of the energy resource.

In his State of the Union address, Obama called for government to develop a roadmap for responsible shale gas production and said his administration would move forward with “common-sense” new rules to make sure drillers protect the public.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama will encourage the country’s booming natural gas output in his State of the Union address on Tuesday, while defending his administration’s energy record, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Obama was expected to devote a significant portion of his speech slated for 9 p.m. EST Tuesday calling for a “new era for American energy,” which will include promoting domestic natural gas production, according to documents provided to Democratic party sources.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A boom in shale oil production will raise U.S. domestic crude output by a fifth over the next decade, helping to slash the country’s dependence on foreign oil imports, the Energy Information Administration said on Monday.

Growing shale production as well as Gulf of Mexico development will push U.S. crude oil production to 6.7 million barrels per day in 2020, up 20 percent and 11 percent higher than the previous forecast, the EIA said in its annual domestic energy outlook.

WASHINGTON, Jan 19 (Reuters) – Cornell University
researchers on Thursday defended their conclusion in a study
last year that drew heavy criticism for its finding that shale
gas development produces more greenhouse gases than coal.

The latest study led by Cornell ecology professor Robert
Howarth addressed criticism lodged at their initial report last
April. That report said that contrary to popular belief, shale
gas has a larger greenhouse gas footprint than conventional
fossil fuels. [ID:nN12172699]

ARLINGTON, Virginia (Reuters) – The public health effects of shale gas development need to be rigorously studied as production rapidly spreads in the United States, public health professionals and advocates said on Monday.

Advances in the hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, drilling technique have revolutionized the natural gas industry, but researchers said more must be done to evaluate what the shale boom means for the those living near wells.

ARLINGTON, Virginia (Reuters) – The public health effects of shale gas development need to be rigorously studied as production rapidly spreads in the United States, public health professionals and advocates said on Monday.

Advances in a drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing have revolutionized the U.S. natural gas industry, but researchers said more needs to done to evaluate what the shale boom means for the those living near wells.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Exxon Mobil Corp and the government struck a deal on Friday that would allow the company to move ahead with development of a field in the Gulf of Mexico estimated to yield tens of billions of dollars of oil.

Exxon sued the government last year after the Interior Department canceled three of five leases for what is called the Julia field.

WASHINGTON, Jan 6 (Reuters) – Exxon Mobil Corp and the
U.S. government struck a deal on Friday that would allow the
company to move ahead with development of a field in the Gulf of
Mexico estimated to yield tens of billions of dollars of oil.

Exxon sued the government last year after the Interior
Department canceled three of five leases for what is called the
Julia field.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A competition to identify the world’s most energy efficient flat screen televisions will kick off on Friday, with the U.S. Energy Department and other governments sponsoring a race to cut down on home electricity use.

The contest, part of an international initiative to promote “super-efficient” products, will award up to 20 Global Efficiency Medals to the most efficient televisions from four different regions: Australia, the European Union, India and North America.