-Some of the Houston-area Chevron and Texaco stations affected by Chevron’s recently suspended sales of premium fuel are still waiting for deliveries. Via FuelFix, most of the 500 stations affected have resumed sales, but Chevron could not explain why some had not. Chevron froze sales July 2 after a handful of area motorists reported engine damage from bad gasoline. Chevron identified a faulty batch of premium fuel coming from a regional terminal in Galena Park.
-Minnesota Power agreed to invest in emissions control equipment and renewable energy technology in a settlement with the EPA over alleged Clean Air Act violations. The settlement calls for $500-600 million in emissions control investments by Minnesota Power, much of which the company has already planned or begun at three of its coal-burning plants. It will also retire, reduce emissions or switch fuel at two coal units at its Boswell Energy Center in Cohasset, Minn., by 2018
-Siemens is preparing an offer to acquire oil and gas compressor and turbine manufacturer Dresser-Rand, Reuters reports. The German engineering firm recently announced plans to move its energy headquarters to the U.S. to capitalize on booming demand for oil and gas equipment. Siemens reportedly approached Dresser-Rand about a takeover two years ago but was rebuffed by the latter’s CEO, Vincent Volpe.
-Biofuels will comprise a greater share of the aviation and marine fuel markets over the next 10 years, Navigant research said this week. Via Platts, high oil prices and tighter regulations on emissions will yield 6% growth in biofuel use in those markets by 2024.
-PPG announced the promotion of Executive Vice President Michael H. McGarry to COO, effective Aug. 1. A 33-year veteran of PPG, McGarry began his career as an engineer at the company’s chemicals complex in Lake Charles, La. He has held several senior management positions at PPG, including senior vice president for commodity chemicals and managing director of PPG Europe.
