-Via FuelFix, Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse pressed EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy Thursday on capping CO2 emissions at refineries, among other sources. Thus far the Obama Administration has targeted its greenhouse-gas-related regulatory regime at new and existing power plants. Refineries may not be far down the list, but it remains to be seen whether or not any significant action will take place before the president’s term ends.
-Meanwhile, the Obama Administration on Friday sought to reassure its neighbors to the north that it is working diligently to formulate a decision on the fate of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. Secretary of State John Kerry said the project is still in the environmental review process, but he did not specify a time frame for completion.
-An oil and gas professional opines in the Financial Post that the economics of building refineries in Canada don’t make sense. Better to focus on exporting raw materials to Asian markets and let Gulf Coast facilities sell refined products to Latin America, he writes.
-Devon Energy hired Thomas Mitchell as its CFO to replace Jeff Agosta, who is leaving Devon to “pursue other interests,” the company said in a statement. Mitchell has 30 years of experience in oil and gas, most recently serving as vice president and CFO of Devon rival Midstates Petroleum Co. He has also worked for Noble Corp. and Apache Corp.
-Cheniere Energy also experienced a shake-up in its top finance position. In a document filed with the SEC on Thursday, the company said Senior Vice President and CFO H. Davis Thames had taken a personal leave of absence. Cheniere’s board elected Michael J. Wortley — previously vice president for strategy and risk at Cheniere — to the vacated position.
