Policy risk
Federal carbon trading bill to be "passed next year,” says lawmaker
A Democrat on the US House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee says that a carbon cap and trade bill could be passed in the United States as soon as the middle of 2008.
CFTC pushes for greater oversight
The Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has issued a report to Congress recommending that its oversight ability be expanded across electronic trading facilities known as Exempt Commercial Markets (ECMs), which include the electronic…
Bid to close Enron loophole
Legislation aimed at preventing price manipulation and excessive speculation in energy markets has been introduced to the US Senate, writes David Watkins
Concerns abound over EC energy package
The EC's third energy package, which recommends that generators and suppliers sell off their transmission assets, has met with resistance from incumbent utilities and raised questions among traders. Oliver Holtaway reports
An unfair competition
As one of the largest importers of natural gas in the European Union, Italy is a clear example of why liberalisation is harder in net importing countries. Alberto Cavaliere, professor of public economics at the University of Pavia, looks at the state of…
NRG presents new nuclear proposals
The first license application in 29 years to build a new nuclear plant in the United States has been submitted.
EC energy package meets mixed response
The EC’s third package of EU energy market liberalisation measures has stopped short of insisting on full ownership unbundling of transmission infrastructure from generation and supply assets, and of creating a fully-fledged European energy regulator.
Bid to close Enron loophole
Legislation aimed at preventing price manipulation and excessive speculation in energy markets has been introduced to the US Senate
Head in the sand
There is still scepticism among energy market participants around Mifid. Some believe they are exempt, while many more are waiting to see what others will do. In view of the significant changes Mifid will make to the energy markets, these are not the…
Rocks and hard places
Despite the environmental, political and infrastructure challenges faced by US coal, some believe high-sulphur grades could soon be back in fashion. David Watkins investigates
White House pushes for futures fees
The Bush Administration has requested that the House of Representatives approve a proposed transaction fee on futures and options contracts.
Rethinking US liberalisation
Citing rising electricity prices, critics of liberalisation have recently managed to convince lawmakers in several US states to rethink policies that ban utilities from owning power plants. Elisa Wood investigates the current state of play
Accessing China's oil market
China's wholesale oil market is opening up to foreign investment and several western oil majors are making inroads. But many regulatory obstacles remain, as Lauren Hilgers reports
“Enron Loophole” will soon be closed: Levin
Senator Carl Levin, who chairs the US Senate's permanent subcommittee on investigations, has said that he will soon introduce legislation that will increase regulatory scrutiny of the over-the-counter (OTC) markets.
Nymex calls for full ICE regulation
The New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) has called for full regulation of its Atlanta-based rival IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) following a federal report which said that the current jurisdiction of federal regulators is not wide-ranging enough.
Bush lays out climate agenda – without emissions trading
In a speech in Washington ahead of the G8 meeting in Germany next week, US President George Bush laid out an agenda for tackling climate change.
An air of uncertainty
As gasoline prices soar, the creaking US refinery system is once more under fire. Although today's healthy margins should encourage new investment, unresolved issues of green regulation appear to be curbing this. David Watkins investigates
CFTC demands Platts data
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed an application in Columbia District Court, seeking to enforce a subpoena for energy-related documents it served on publishing group McGraw-Hill. Part of an ongoing investigation into energy…