Northeastern Winter Energy Alert
(Fri, 05 Jan 2018) Sustained cold weather and high natural gas consumption pushing up spot natural gas and electricity prices.
USDA Offers Food Safety Tips for Areas Affected by East Coast Winter Storm
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing food safety recommendations for those who may be impacted by a major winter storm on the East Coast.
LOOP Sour becomes heavier, more sour for December: In The LOOP
The US crude blend LOOP Sour was heavier and more sour in December, with about 52% of imported barrels consisting of heavy sour grades.
U.S. gasoline prices increased in 2017
(Thu, 04 Jan 2018) Crude oil prices ended 2017 at $60/barrel (b), the highest end-of-year price since 2013. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices averaged $51/b in 2017, up $7/b from the 2016 average, and ended the year $6/b higher than at the end of 2016. Brent prices have moved up $10/b since the end of 2016 and ended the year at $65/b, widening the Brent-WTI spread to $5/b at the end of the year, the largest difference since 2013.
A Literary Journey Underground
Three books delve into mass transit and the creation of the subway.
The Case for the Subway
It built the city. Now, no matter the cost — at least $100 billion — the city must rebuild it to survive.
China’s Ambitious New ‘Port’: Landlocked Kazakhstan
In a wilderness of frozen desert, China and Kazakhstan are reviving a Silk Road land bridge between Asia and Europe, reshaping trade and geopolitics.
Crude oil prices increased in 2017, and Brent-WTI spread widened
(Wed, 03 Jan 2018) Crude oil prices ended 2017 at the highest levels since 2013. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices averaged $51/b in 2017, up $7/b from the 2016 average, and ended the year at $60/b, $6/b higher than at the end of 2016. Brent prices have moved up $10/b since the end of 2016 and ended the year at $65/b, widening the Brent-WTI spread to $5/b at the end of the year, the largest difference since 2013.
Did Trump Kill the Plan for a Hudson Rail Tunnel? Its Backers Hope Not
Officials said they hoped a dismissive letter from the Trump administration about a rail tunnel linking New York and New Jersey was a bargaining tactic, not a death notice.
City Will Place 1,500 Bollards to Counter Vehicle Attacks
Mayor Bill de Blasio said New York would spend some $50 million on safety measure, including installing metal posts around vulnerable pedestrian areas.