Latest from Scott Tong

• Aug 2, 2017

  Venezuela’s debt could give China and Russia an oil market edge

  As chaos in Venezuela continues, the Trump administration has imposed sanctions on President Nicolás Maduro and is threatening an embargo on Venezuelan oil. But that could backfire: if Washington pushes hard enough, Venezuela could go belly up on its debt, and that debt is owned in large part by Russia and China. The U.S. doesn’t want […]

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• Jul 31, 2017

  Why the oil industry may be the most corrupt in the world

  Two cases of illegal payments and bribery came to light recently. One is against the oil services company Halliburton in Angola. The other involves a mining subsidiary of Glencore doing business in the Democratic Republic of Congo. With government heavily involved and centralizing many so-called extractive industries, drilling and mining are more prone to corruption […]

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• Jul 19, 2017

  Tech issues loom large in U.S.-China talks

  The U.S and China began talks in Washington today about trade and other issues. The talks — billed as an “economic dialogue” — have a couple of clouds hanging over them. Like North Korea and steel, which, the U.S. complains, China produces and sells too cheaply. But there are other issues. Chinese companies want access to […]

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• Jul 18, 2017

  "The grid is in good shape," an Energy Department study draft says

  

  Are renewable sources reliable? Come down the energy rabbit hole with us.

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• Jul 3, 2017

  The Tesla for the rest of us is here

  The $35,000 Model 3 is on track for production this week.

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• Jun 16, 2017

  California’s federal waiver for higher fuel efficiency rules is ‘not under review’ by EPA

  There are two forces pushing cars and fuel efficiency in opposition directions: the federal government and California. California for decades has had special permission to set environmental rules that are stricter than the federal rules. The Trump administration had suggested it might try to revoke the waiver that grants that permission. But in a bit […]

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• Jun 15, 2017

  Counting up American coal jobs: What’s the real total?

  

  Here are the numbers behind the much-discussed coal industry in the U.S.

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• Jun 13, 2017

  Goldman Sachs invests in wind power and will help other big brands meet their green goals

  Just after President Trump pulled the United States out of the Paris agreement, Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein tweeted his displeasure. Now, the blue-blood bank is going green in another way with a big move into wind and solar energy. Not just buying it, but pairing other buyers and sellers in the emerging market of […]

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• Jun 6, 2017

  U.S. and Mexico resolve sticky dispute over sugar imports

  The U.S. and Mexico announced a deal on sugar exports today. The agreement comes after years of dispute between the two nations and gives better terms to the powerful American sugar lobby. The negotiations have been tough, and officials are relieved to have avoided an all-out trade war over sugar. But prices for the sweet […]

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• May 23, 2017

  Is selling half of the US petroleum reserve a good idea?

  The Trump administration in its budget proposes to sell off half of the country’s strategic reserve of crude oil. The idea is that putting more than 300 million barrels of energy onto the market could raise more than $16 billion over the course of a decade. Proponents note that the oil market is more open, […]

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