Advertise on podcast: Capitol Crude: The US Energy Policy Podcast

The US Department of Energy in late January hit “pause” on its work issuing key LNG export permits. About 30 million mt/year of probable export capacity additions in the US and Mexico are at risk because of the permitting hold. Climate activists have celebrated the White House decision as a massive win, while industry groups have warned that it could endanger future LNG projects and undermine the role of the US as an LNG exporter. But Arvind Ravikumar, co-director of the Energy Emissions Modeling and Data Lab and a professor within the University of Texas at Austin’s Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, believes this is the wrong debate to be having. S&P Global Commodity Insights Americas LNG reporter Corey Paul caught up with Ravikumar for the podcast. And Ravikumar shared his perspective on the way we should be thinking about the future of US LNG exports. Stick around for Jeff Mower with the Market Minute, a look at near-term oil market drivers.   Related content: We are having the wrong debate about Biden’s decision on liquefied natural gas: Arvind Ravikumar White House declares pause on key US LNG export permits, policy review US producers tout LNG growth outlook despite regulatory uncertainty US Senate weighs long-term impact of Biden's LNG permitting pause (subscriber content)

Under settlement agreements with environmental groups and Colorado, the Bureau of Land Management is taking another look at that the Uncompahgre Resource Management Plan, which guides the management and use of nearly a million acres of public lands and mineral estate in western Colorado. Among the amendments it is considering to the Trump-era plan are alternatives that would reduce the number of acres open to oil and gas leasing. Melissa Hornbein, senior attorney at the Western Environmental Law Center, joined the podcast to discuss the RMP amendment process, including how it came about and what environmental groups want to see happen. She also gave her take on how the interests of the oil and gas industry are weighed against conservation goals and what a change in administration could mean for the RMP process. Stick around for Binish Azhar with the Market Minute, a look at near-term oil market drivers.

Threats to the flow of crude supplies have worsened in recent weeks with oil and petroleum products tankers among targets struck by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Foreign policy and international energy specialist Brenda Shaffer, a professor at the US Naval Postgraduate School, joined the podcast to discuss not only the latest developments in the Red Sea but how we got here. She spoke about the Houthi rebels’ origins, their impact on global oil supplies and prices, and the US posture towards their sponsor – Iran. Stick around for Starr Spencer with the Market Minute, a look at near-term oil market drivers.   This podcast was produced by Jasmin Melvin and Kate Winston in Washington. Learn more about our guest speaker: Brenda Shaffer (@ProfBShaffer) Related coverage: US, UK sanction four top Houthi military officials involved in attacks on Red Sea shipping Conflict with Houthis likely to get worse before it gets better, experts say DOE eyes SPR purchases into summer driving season but door also appears open for drawdowns

The ethanol industry is angling to be a bigger part of the US decarbonization strategy, but so far, the Biden administration has sent some mixed signals on the issue. For instance, the Treasury Department has made some policy decisions that could provide some big opportunities for ethanol, but the Environmental Protection Agency is slow walking other policies the industry has called for. Brian Jennings, the CEO of the American Coalition for Ethanol, joins the podcast to discuss the administration’s recent policy decisions, and outline additional actions the industry is seeking. Stick around after the interview for Jeff Mower with the Market Minute, a near-term look at oil market drivers.

The Biden administration in December signed off on a plan to conduct the fewest oil and gas lease sales in history, with just three auctions in the Gulf of Mexico planned in the next five years. Now, oil and gas companies are changing their bidding strategies to scoop up leases when they are available. George Laguros, a technical research principal with S&P Global Commodity Insights, spoke with Starr Spencer, senior editor for oil news at S&P Global Commodity Insights, to discuss the recent lease sale, and what might be next for leases after the election. Stick around for Chris van Moessner with the Market Minute, a near-term look at oil market drivers.

According to S&P Global Market Intelligence data, oil and gas deals topped $271 billion in value in 2023, more than doubling the value of deals made in 2022. Bruce On, EY’s US West region energy strategy and transactions leader, joined the podcast to discuss this wave of consolidation, whether it will continue and just how the oil sector is managing to pull off these deals in uncertain economic times. He also gave his take on how the surge in dealmaking will play out and the role politics could play as the US gears up for a major election. Stick around for Binish Azhar with the Market Minute, a look at near-term oil market drivers.

In October, the US agreed to ease sanctions on Venezuela in exchange for progress toward a fair election next year. But Venezuela has not fully held up its side of the US sanctions deal, and now it is threatening to annex the oil-rich Essequibo region of neighboring Guyana. David Goldwyn, president of Goldwyn Global Strategies LLC, joins to podcast to discuss the status of US sanctions on Venezuela and what comes next. Stick around after the interview for Starr Spencer with the Market Minute, a near-term look at oil market drivers. Capitol Crude is taking a break for the holidays. We'll be back with new episodes in January.

There are more than two dozen cases filed by US cities and states pending, with allegations that Big Oil knew about the dangers of burning fossil fuels and actively hid that information from consumers and investors. Lauren Varnado, an oil and gas trial lawyer and Houston office managing partner at the law firm of Michelman & Robinson, joined the podcast to talk about this new form of climate litigation and its impacts on the oil industry. Stick around for Starr Spencer with the Market Minute, a look at near-term oil market drivers.

Heading into this winter, relatively mild weather is forecast, but utility regulators have warned that an extended bout of extreme winter weather could stress infrastructure and present problems once again. Though progress has been made enhance winter preparedness, the interconnected nature of the gas and power industries remains a key concern. Jose Costa, president and CEO of the Northeast Gas Association, joined the podcast to discuss the gas and power interplay. He spoke with S&P Global Commodity Insights reporter for The Energy Daily Tom Tiernan about infrastructure and pipeline capacity issues compounding the challenge of gas and power interdependence, NGA’s role in helping to aid gas and power sector coordination, and efforts underway to both reliably and affordably meet energy needs beyond just electrification, including gas transportation alternatives, geothermal pilot projects and other solutions that will require natural gas to remain a part of the fuel mix into the future. Stick around for Chris van Moessner with the Market Minute, a look at near-term oil market drivers.

The climate impact of fossil fuels is in the spotlight as world leaders prepare to head to the COP28 climate negotiations in the United Arab Emirates. Environmental impacts arise from many steps in the oil and gas production process, including the underground mapping that must be done before companies can drill wells. The seismic survey process requires tree cutting that can fragment forests, as well as equipment that emits greenhouse gases. OptiSeis Solutions is a company in Canada that is developing a new technology that reduces the environmental impact of the seismic survey process. Andrea Crook, the CEO of OptiSeis, joins the podcast to tell us about the technology, which can be used not only for oil and gas development, but also for geothermal and carbon capture and storage. Stick around after the interview for Jeff Mower with the Market Minute, a near-term look at oil market drivers.

With this year’s elections barely in the rear-view mirror, the 2024 US elections are just one year away. Already, there are questions about how energy policy, climate change and prices at the pump will play into this election cycle. Capitol Crude spoke with a Democratic and a Republican strategist for their take on these issues. Last week, Antjuan Seawright weighed in with the Democratic perspective. And this week, you will hear from Tom Hassenboehler, who discussed the GOP’s thinking. Hassenboehler is a partner at CO2EFFICIENT, a Washington DC consultancy that specializes in energy and environmental policy. He joins the podcast to talk about the role that climate change and energy prices play in elections, and the chances that Republicans and Democrats can find common ground on energy issues. Stick around after the interview for Starr Spencer with the Market Minute, a near-term look at oil market drivers.

It’s November, and that means US elections are just one year away. But how will energy policy, climate change and prices at the pump play into this election cycle? Capitol Crude spoke with a Democratic and a Republican strategist for their take. We’re going to present their views over two episodes. First up this week, you’ll hear from Antjuan Seawright for the Democratic perspective, and Tom Hassenboehler will be on the podcast next week to weigh in on the GOP’s thinking. Now, Seawright is a CBS News political contributor and Democratic strategist as well as founder and CEO of Blueprint Strategy, a political consulting firm based in South Carolina. He joins the podcast to talk about environmental justice, bringing balance to the energy transition and whether recent turmoil in the House could have more voters turning blue. Stick around for Binish Azhar with the Market Minute, a look at near-term oil market drivers.