BP’s gulf drilling plan approved

The Obama administration has approved BP’s first plan to drill for oil in the gulf since last year’s Deepwater Horizon disaster, which left 11 dead and damaged the gulf ecosystem and the economies of the states that border it. Representatives for the Gulf Restoration Network say the decision is “problematic,” considering the fact that comprehensive safety legislation has yet to be passed through Congress.

Gardner digs in with Big Oil

Colorado Fourth-District Republican US Rep Cory Gardner is filling his campaign coffers for 2012 as he did in 2010 by leaning heavily on oil-and-gas industry donors. He raked in $370,000 in the quarter that just ended. That’s the most of any candidate for federal office from Colorado and topped his take in previous quarters by roughly $100,000. One of every ten dollars Gardner brought in last quarter came from oil and gas, and this quarter the percentage is higher, coming in at roughly 12 percent. That notable campaign finance record paired with the high-profile pro-drilling and environmental-regulation-rollback positions he has taken mark out the freshman congressman as an aspiring top-level advocate for oil and gas on the Hill.

OpenSecrets reveals identity of legislators who dumped BP and Transocean stock after Gulf spill

A recent report by OpenSecrets shows that several high-profile lawmakers (including GOP Reps. Vern Buchanan and Connie Mack of Florida) dumped their stock in BP and Transocean following last year’s massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Both Republicans and Democrats gave up significant portions of their holdings in the companies, according to the analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Congressional report: Cutting oil company tax breaks is unlikely to affect consumers

Opponents of ending tax breaks for big oil companies argue that closing tax loopholes will result in higher prices at the pump, but a report from the non-partisan Congressional Research Service finds that ending the tax breaks is unlikely to cause a rise in prices.

Investigative panel releases Deepwater Horizon report–points finger at policy and practice

The Deepwater Horizon Joint Investigation Team (JIT), comprised of representatives from the Coast Guard and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, Friday released Volume I (PDF) of its exhaustively titled “Report of Investigation into the Circumstances Surrounding the Explosion, Fire, Sinking and Loss of Eleven Crew Members Aboard the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico, April 20 – 22, 2010.”

Climate change fight absent in DC but on in Calif. over Prop 23

In the absence of meaningful legislation to curb greenhouse gas emissions in Washington, the fight surrounding California’s ballot measure, Proposition 23, is rapidly becoming the biggest — and most highly funded — energy issue in the current campaign season.

Prop…

Esquire profile of 11 killed in Transocean fire delivers killer details

In the September issue of Esquire, Tom Junod has delivered a profile of the 11 men killed in the Transocean oil rig explosion and fire that led to the largest spill in U.S. history and that will end in…

Distribution of BP oil spill funds still a cloudy issue despite new administrator

Kenneth Feinberg takes over today the gargantuan task of distributing the $20 billion BP is setting aside to reimburse victims of the Gulf oil spill. He has said he will approve compensation claims by relying on precedents set by state and federal law. But law professors following the issue say it is unclear just how Feinberg will interpret a key legal doctrine called “proximate cause,” which will determine exactly who gets a slice of the compensation fund.

Actor Costner chides Shell exec on oil industry spill record

The actor who dropped the biggest water bomb in the history of cinema, “Waterworld” producer and star Kevin Costner, is now trying to save as much precious liquid from oil industry contamination as possible, and in Aspen Monday he talked…

Wash Post paints with numbers the oil industry lawmaker-lobbyist circuit in DC

The Washington Post does the math on the “revolving door” turning always between the federal government and the oil industry, underscoring the significant influence the industry has over Congress and the administration.

Key numbers:

BP and other companies involved

…