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SW Ind. County Allowed to Develop Fertilizer Plant
June 19, 2013 9:20 am | News | CommentsThe state won't stand in the way of a fertilizer plant that a Pakistan-based group is developing in southwestern Indiana despite reservations expressed by Gov. Mike Pence, his office said Tuesday. Pence directed the Indiana Finance Authority not to block Posey County from backing the Midwest Fertilizer Corp. plant.
Ash: A Valuable Byproduct
June 19, 2013 9:19 am | by Xcel Energy | Videos | CommentsWes Reeves, a spokesperson for Xcel Energy, discusses the benefits of ash byproducts produced at Harrington Generating Station, a coal-fired generating station. The ash can be used in a number of processes in various industries and presents an additional revenue stream for Xcel.
Vt. Town Board OKs Biomass Agreement
June 19, 2013 9:15 am | News | CommentsThe town of Springfield, Vt., has approved an agreement with the developers of a proposed wood-burning power plant. The biomass proposal awaits approval from the state Public Service Board. The Agency of Natural Resources has issued an air quality permit.
NRP to Buy Oil and Gas Interests for About $35.3M
June 17, 2013 10:53 am | News | CommentsNatural Resource Partners LP said Monday that it reached a deal to buy non-operated working interests in producing oil and gas properties in North Dakota and Montana from Abraxas Petroleum Corp. for about $35.3 million in cash. The acquisition consists of about 13,500 net acres with an estimated average working interest of 11 percent in the Bakken and Three Forks play.
Nine Lawsuits Filed for Unpaid Work at Mines
June 17, 2013 10:34 am | by DYLAN LOVAN, Associated Press | News | CommentsJim Justice's coal operations in Appalachia are struggling as business owners have filed at least nine lawsuits since late 2011 claiming they are not being paid for work at Justice mines. Still others say they are owed money but haven't yet sued.
Grocers Allege Potato Group Inflated Spud Prices
June 14, 2013 9:04 am | by JOHN MILLER, Associated Press | News | CommentsA battle between grocers and potato growers has been silently hitting shoppers' pocketbooks, according to a U.S. wholesaler accusing America's spud farmers of driving up prices while spying on farmers with satellites and aircraft fly-overs to enforce strict limits on how many tubers they can grow.
Record $11M Fine for Illegal California Gold Mine
June 14, 2013 9:02 am | by DON THOMPSON, Associated Press | News | CommentsState regulators imposed a record $11 million fine Thursday on the operators of a renegade gold mine in the Sierra foothills east of Sacramento. The board also plans to seek a court injunction to halt mining while it sues over the property owners' repeated failure to correct regulatory violations.
Enerflex Closes Casper Gas Plant, Lays Off Workers
June 14, 2013 9:00 am | News | CommentsA Canadian company announced Thursday that it's closing a natural gas compression and processing plant in Casper and laying off dozens of workers. Enerflex Ltd., based in Calgary, Canada, announced Thursday it is closing its Casper plant because of shifting demand in the U.S. gas markets.
'Pink Slime' Lawsuit Heads Back to State Court
June 13, 2013 10:43 am | by DIRK LAMMERS, Associated Press | News | CommentsA federal judge on Wednesday moved a South Dakota beef processing company's defamation lawsuit against ABC News back to state court. Beef Products Inc. sued American Broadcasting Companies Inc. and ABC News Inc. for defamation in September over its coverage of a meat product the company calls lean, finely textured beef but that critics dubbed "pink slime."
Deal Lets Duke Energy Raise Rates $200M a Year
June 13, 2013 10:41 am | by EMERY P. DALESIO, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsDuke Energy Corp. said Wednesday it is willing to take less than half of the rate increase it sought in February for electricity customers in western North Carolina under a deal with a state regulatory division responsible for representing consumers.
Idaho Farmers Sue Monsanto Over GMO Wheat
June 13, 2013 10:40 am | by REBECCA BOONE, Associated Press | News | CommentsIdaho farmers filed a federal lawsuit contending that Monsanto's development of Roundup Ready wheat resulted in increased production costs and lowered prices because the genetically engineered wheat is likely to infiltrate the non-genetically engineered wheat supply.
BP: US Oil Production Surged in 2012
June 12, 2013 10:49 am | News | CommentsBP says the United States saw its biggest-ever annual increase in oil production in 2012, while the world's demand for energy grew at a slower pace than the year before. In its annual Statistical Review of World Energy released Wednesday, BP PLC says the U.S. produced 8.9 million barrels a day, up 13.9 percent from 2011.
Stillwater Mining CEO retires Amid Shake Up
June 10, 2013 10:46 am | News | CommentsThe announcement of Stillwater Mining Co.'s retirement came a month after a contentious annual meeting at which shareholders elected former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, former CEO Charles Engles and two other dissident investors to the board after they charged the previous board with mismanagement.
Atlas Resource to Buy Gas Reserves for $733M
June 10, 2013 10:44 am | News | CommentsAtlas Resource Partners is acquiring about 466 billion cubic worth of proven natural gas reserves for $733 million. Atlas Resource now expects its full year 2014 distribution to its unit holders of at least $2.60 per unit, up about 27 percent from its current annualized distribution of $2.04.
Calif. Utility to Retire San Onofre Nuclear Plant
June 7, 2013 11:05 am | by MICHAEL R. BLOOD, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe troubled San Onofre nuclear power plant in Southern California is closing, after an epic 16-month battle over whether the twin reactors could be safely returned to service, officials announced Friday. Operator Southern California Edison said in a statement it will retire the twin reactors because uncertainty about the future of the plant.
Weak Signals on the Economy Send Stocks Plunging
June 6, 2013 11:48 am | by STEVE ROTHWELL, AP Markets Writer | News | CommentsA series of weak economic reports sent the stock market plunging to its lowest level in a month on Wednesday. Companies like miners, banks and chemical makers, whose fortunes are most closely tied to the prospects for growth, led the market lower.
China's Top Butcher Tries to Sell U.S. on Takeover
June 6, 2013 11:46 am | by JOE McDONALD, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsAt an age when most Chinese executives are long retired, the country's top hog butcher is taking on a daunting new job persuading Americans to allow him to complete China's biggest takeover of a U.S. company. As for reassuring American consumers about quality, Smithfield "already has a very good food safety control system."
Coca-Cola Opens Myanmar Bottling Plant
June 4, 2013 10:29 am | by YADANA HTUN, Associated Press | News | CommentsCoca-Cola began bottling its famous soft drink in Myanmar on Tuesday as part of a planned five-year, $200 million investment after having no local production for more than 60 years. The return of Coca Cola is emblematic of the opportunities U.S. companies see in Myanmar as it builds a free market economy after decades of military rule.
Syrian War and U.S. Oil Production
June 4, 2013 9:59 am | by Wall Street Journal | Videos | CommentsGovernment projections suggest that the U.S. may soon produce more oil than it exports. Jerry Seib of the Wall Street Journal discusses the possible connection between this development and the growing call for U.S. miliatry intervention in the escalating Syrian conflict.
BP Plans to Bring Two New Drill Rigs to North Slope
June 4, 2013 9:11 am | by BECKY BOHRER, Associated Press | News | CommentsBP Alaska plans to bring two new drill rigs to the North Slope by 2016, part of an additional $1 billion investment the company envisions over the next five years following the state's rollback of oil production taxes. BP is the second of the North Slope's three major players, after ConocoPhillips, to announce plans following passage of the tax overhaul that was signed into law by Gov. Sean Parnell last month.
OPEC Keeps Oil Output Target at 30M Barrels
May 31, 2013 11:51 am | by GEORGE JAHN, Associated Press | News | CommentsOPEC oil ministers reached quick agreement Friday on keeping output targets steady but deferred solutions on how to deal with surging U.S. shale oil production and internal rivalries denting the organization's image of unity. The 12-nation oil cartel's decision on keeping the status quo on production of 30 million barrels a day was expected.
Oil, Gas Influence on CO Politics Questioned
May 31, 2013 11:28 am | by KRISTEN WYATT, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe oil and gas industry in Colorado exerts an outsize influence on state politics, and its generous political spending might be the reason, suggests a report out Thursday from a left-leaning watchdog group. Colorado Ethics Watch concluded the industry spent nearly $5 million lobbying Colorado officials between 2007 and 2012.
Colorado Brewer Delays NC Plant
May 31, 2013 11:25 am | News | CommentsA Colorado brewing company has delayed plans to open a plant in western North Carolina. New Belgium Brewing Co. says added capacity in Colorado means the company does not need the brewery in Asheville as soon as expected. The craft brewer says it will delay construction by eight months.
Creating Better Jobs for Manufacturing’s Comeback
May 31, 2013 9:55 am | by Ray Attiyah, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, Definity Partners | Articles | CommentsScan through the business section of the news, and you’re likely to see stories about the resurgence of U.S. manufacturing, about how companies are moving jobs back to the United States because of the rising cost of manufacturing in (and shipping to and from) China.
Problems at Nuke Plant May Hurt OPPD's Credit
May 30, 2013 10:47 am | News | CommentsMoody's says it might downgrade Omaha Public Power District credit ratings because of the lingering problems at its nuclear power plant. Moody's says it's reviewing OPPD's ratings for a possible downgrade because the restart of Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant has been delayed again.
