Today’s Climate: July 20, 2010

BP to Continue Test As Seepage Unrelated to Well (Reuters)

BP can keep its blown-out Gulf of Mexico well capped for at least another day, after it was determined that nearby seepage was not related to the leak, a U.S. official said on Monday.

BP Considers New Plan to Permanently Seal Well (New York Times)

BP said it was was studying the possibility of a "static kill," in which heavy mud would be pumped into the recently capped well and permanently seal the gusher sooner than had been anticipated.

Rig Engineer Details Problems Before Blast (Wall Street Journal)

The Deepwater Horizon had a series of blackouts, seized-up computers and other maintenance problems in the months before the drilling rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, the rig’s chief engineer told investigators Monday.

U.S. Issues First Shallow-Water Drilling Permit (Reuters)

The U.S. Interior Department issued its first shallow-water drilling permit since offshore exploration companies were required to meet two sets of new safety regulations in response to the BP oil spill, a department official said on Monday.

Judge Refuses to Withdraw from Drilling Ban Case (AP)

A federal judge who overturned the Obama administration’s initial six-month moratorium on deepwater oil drilling has refused to disqualify himself from the case.

The Energy and Climate Whip Count (Politico)

Politico breaks down the positions of senators who later this month will be debating a comprehensive energy and climate change bill. The voting projections so far are 33 "yeses" and 26 "no’s," with the remaining 41 still unknown.

Oil Sands Producers Must Cut Emissions: U.S. Envoy (Reuters)

Oil sands producers must do more to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the U.S. ambassador to Canada said on Monday, as the two countries move to harmonize rules on carbon dioxide cuts.

Oil Sands Rising as BP Spill Casts Palls Over Future of Deepwater Drilling (Bloomberg)

Suncor Energy and Canadian Natural Resources, two of the largest oil-sands producers, rank among the biggest winners as a U.S. halt on new Gulf of Mexico drilling leads investors to alternative crude sources.

Industries Use Airwaves to Attack Low-Carbon Fuel Mandate (The Hill)

A broad coalition of oil, trucking, airline, manufacturing and other companies Tuesday will roll out a two-week advertising campaign accusing senators of hurting consumers and jobs if they lower the greenhouse gas content of fuels.

Exxon Gets Back In The Climate Denier Business (The Australian)

ExxonMobil gave almost $1.75 million last year to organizations that campaigned against controls on greenhouse gas emissions, breaking its pledge to stop funding groups that promote climate skepticism.

Will Congress Act on Mine Safety This Year? (Coal Tattoo)

Later this week, a House committee will take up coal mine safety reform legislation supported by the Obama administration. Still, it’s far from clear that this legislation has much of a chance of becoming law this year.

Obama Launches Policy to Protect Oceans (AP)

The Obama administration on Monday announced a new national policy for strengthening the way the U.S. manages its oceans and coasts, and the Great Lakes. Officials said the framework is needed now more than ever following the Gulf oil spill.

World Warned Energy Path Unsustainable at U.S. Talks (AFP)

Major economies looked Monday at how to cooperate in shifting to cleaner sources of energy, with a top policy board warning the world’s current path was unsustainable.

Middle East Remains Home to Most Proven Reserves (Rigzone)

The Middle East continues to hold the majority of the world’s proven oil reserves at 56.6%, although this percentage has declined from the 65.7% in 1999, according to BP’s Statistical Review of World Energy.

China Rejects World’s Number One Energy User Title (AFP)

China on Tuesday rejected an assessment from the International Energy Agency that it had surpassed the U.S. to become the world’s top energy consumer, calling the data "unreliable."

Report: Honda to Roll Out Plug-In Hybrid Car in 2013 (Reuters)

Honda is working on a hybrid car that can be recharged at home and an all-electric vehicle, both for release in about three years, the Nikkei business daily reported.

German Industry Profits May Be Reduced by CO2 Emissions Costs: Report (Bloomberg)

Germany’s energy intensive industries may have their profits cut by as much as 87% by 2020 due to the costs of carbon emissions certificates, the Financial Times Deutschland said, citing a report from Goetzpartners Corporate Finance Ltd.

Veolia Water, Milwaukee Conduct First Carbon-Water Study (SustainableBusiness)

Veolia Water North America, a division of Veolia Environment, and the city of Milwaukee announced what is believed to be the first-ever simultaneous analysis of water and carbon on a major metropolitan area’s water cycle.