WASHINGTON, Jan 10 (Reuters) – The U.S. government
releases on Tuesday its first outlook for 2012 global oil
demand, which analysts said may show weaker crude demand growth
for next year, especially if China cools its fuel consumption.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s report is the
first of three major oil supply and demand forecasts to be
released this month. The Organization of the Petroleum
Exporting Countries is set to release its its monthly outlook
next week on Jan. 17, followed by the International Energy
Agency’s report on Jan. 18.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers pressed the Obama administration on the first day of the new Congress not to impose regulations curtailing drilling technique that taps hard-to-get natural gas reserves but has generated criticism about potential water pollution.

Thirty-two members of the Congressional Natural Gas Caucus called on the Interior Department on Wednesday not to hinder producers who use hydraulic fracturing to extract natural gas from underground rock formations.

WASHINGTON, Jan 5 (Reuters) – A bipartisan group of U.S.
lawmakers pressed the Obama administration on the first day of
the new Congress not to impose regulations curtailing drilling
technique that taps hard-to-get natural gas reserves but has
generated criticism about potential water pollution.

Thirty-two members of the Congressional Natural Gas Caucus
called on the Interior Department on Wednesday not to hinder
producers who use hydraulic fracturing to extract natural gas
from underground rock formations.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Congress should pass legislation, if necessary, to force the Obama administration to open more offshore areas to oil and gas exploration, the head of the American Petroleum Institute said on Tuesday.

The administration last month removed from its proposed five-year offshore drilling plan an earlier decision to allow energy exploration off the Atlantic coast and in Florida

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Congress should pass legislation, if necessary, to force the Obama administration to open more offshore areas to oil and gas exploration, the head of the American Petroleum Institute said on Tuesday.

The administration last month removed from its proposed five-year offshore drilling plan an earlier decision to allow energy exploration off the Atlantic coast and in Florida waters. It had pledged to open the areas to exploration shortly before last summer’s BP oil spill.

WASHINGTON, Jan 3 (Reuters) – The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency has received final test results from the
Energy Department on how older vehicles perform using gasoline
blended with 15 percent ethanol, the agency said on Monday.

The EPA said it is now on track to issue a decision this
month on whether so-called E15 gasoline is safe for vehicles
built during the 2001 to 2006 model years. U.S. gasoline now
contains up to 10 percent ethanol.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A federal appeals court on Tuesday rejected a challenge from U.S. oil companies and refiners against the Environmental Protection Agency for retroactively imposing ethanol blending levels and volume requirements for gasoline sales.

Federal law requires the EPA to set by November 30 each year the amount of ethanol that must make up U.S. gasoline sales for the following year. For 2010, biofuels have to account for 8.25 percent of gasoline sales.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration on Thursday proposed special energy zones on public lands in six western states deemed good locations to build utility-scale facilities to produce electricity from solar power.

The Interior Department issued a draft environmental impact statement that looked at the effect of solar energy projects able to generate 20 megawatts of power in areas that have the highest solar potential and will do the least harm to the environment.

WASHINGTON, Dec 16 (Reuters) – The Obama administration on
Thursday proposed special energy zones on public lands in six
western states deemed good locations to build utility-scale
facilities to produce electricity from solar power.

The Interior Department issued a draft environmental impact
statement that looked at the effect of solar energy projects
able to generate 20 megawatts of power in areas that have the
highest solar potential and will do the least harm to the
environment.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Senate on Wednesday voted in favor of a one-year extension of the ethanol tax credit and the tariff on ethanol imports at existing rates, despite complaints the subsidies are wasteful.

The extension was part of a massive bill extending the lower income tax rates imposed during the administration of former President George W. Bush. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives.