Oil Patch sets up Keystone Pipeline in 2012 election, ComEd files for Huge Grid Upgrade, Mandates Don't Make Public Policy

The oil and gas sector is set to play a big political role this 2012 election year as President Obama must decide whether or not to approve the controversial Keystone Pipeline which would send tar sands crude from Alberta to Texas. Last week at his annual "State of American Energy" speech, American Petroleum Institute head Jack Gerard proclaimed that President Obama faces "huge political consequences" if he does not approve the proposed 1,700-mile Keystone XI pipeline that would link Alberta's oil stands to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast. The Obama administration must decide by February 21 to accept or deny a permit for the project.

ComEd filed with Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) its 10-year, $2.6 billion Infrastructure Investment Plan which includes  investments of $1.3 billion to strengthen the electric system and another $1.3 billion to add new, digital smart grid and advanced meter technology that will transform the delivery of electricity to homes and businesses throughout northern Illinois.  The filing also included the utility's $233 million Investment Plan for 2012 and its plan for a smart grid Test Bed to provide entrepreneurs "on-grid" locations for testing of smart grid-related technologies and services.

Unlike ComEd and the Illinois mandate, many utilities have been stunned by public pushback on smartgrid technology.  Interesting article in Greenbag highlights some of the reasons for comsumer backlash on smartgrid installation.