iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Interior Secretary Burgum, who killed a major offshore wind project, is floating the idea of forcing the government to pay energyproject developers for any fossil fuel project the feds kill (I.e. KXL).

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

At a mic check for this Export-Import Bank conference, the person on stage reads out - "Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the country."

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

Heading the "let's lift sanctions" push: Steve "I've developed a friendship with Putin" Witkoff.

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

Just got this text from an auto dealership:

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

I'd like to thank the Atlantic for providing the means to write a few lines of good-old-fashioned scandal coverage for this morning's Politico energy newsletter:

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Shorter Bessent on Fox: We had to burn the economy to save it.

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Meanwhile, Dallas Fed Reserve Bank publishes its latest survey of 130 oil industry execs. The vibes ain't good!

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Watch this space: The World Health Organization officially classifies gasoline as a carcinogen. The Lancet carried a summary of findings, expects the full study to be releaed in 2026. Lawyers, get your billiable hours ready:

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Part of the reasons DOE is going after these projects - and other programs meant to foster clean energy production or energy efficiency - is that White House and GOP Congressional leaders need to find more money they can claw back for tax cuts:

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

An initial list of projects to cut pretty much would have cut not only renewables but also projects favored by the oil industry -

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

"Another Italian to watch"....

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

Shout out to the "senior Vatican official" in today's WaPo who actually made me laugh out loud:

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

U.S. energy officials throughout history: "We don't want to pick winners and losers." DOE officials at a Japanese governemnt event in Houst last night: Please invest in Alaska LNG. Also I'm waiting for my Pulitzer on the hed on this Politico Energy newsletter item:

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

Barber shop in Falls Church offering free haircuts to fired federal workers at the end of the month.

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Support the workers at Le Dip and other DC restaurants forming unions. The workers cooking and delivering your food are some of the most smashed upon workers around.

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Egg ration at local TJs. Can't get them at any price!

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Time to bring out the celebratory donuts and dress in the proper attire.

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

But don't expect too much more.

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

This move did provoke a peep from the lobbyists...

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

My original draft of our Politico energy newsletter top had the title President Stabs Oil Industry In Eye, but it didn't survive editing:

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

Oil industry spent tens of millions on the Trump campaign and two weeks in they get this -

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

Yo Canada, toss that Titos shit into the bay and order some pallets of this.

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

American oil companies when Biden put a pause on processing new LNG permits for a year, affecting no one who already had paperwork in or building or operating a plant, screamed bloody murder. Trump puts on tariffs that will hike everyone costs immediately - "We hope for a quick resolution."

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Chevron goes with Gulf of America in its earnings release:

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

This is SUCH Congress-speak for "The IRA investments in my distrcit are good. But the investments in your disctricts are probably bad."

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

How dire is this emergency? Take a look at what the order defines as "energy." Basically, things are dire enough to prop up fossil fuels but not so dire to speed the development of wind, solar or batteries.

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

GOP lawmakers also expect to raise $5 billion over 10 years in leases of federal land to oil, gas and coal companies. Holding leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge expected to bring $45 million during that period.

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Another potential revenue raiser: Selling public land and a billions of dollars of timber.

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Selling oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Some of you may vaguely recall Republicans blasting Biden for selling SPR oil after Russia invaded Ukraine. Here it's something they might do to pay for any tax cuts:

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

I keep telling these oil and gas people that Trump might be serious about tariffs on imported oil (I.e., raising gasoline prices). No, no, they tell me. It's just opening negotiations.

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

The council looks as if it's going to be "ad hoc" and answering to Stephen Miller. Which of course doesn't there isn't some potential knife fighting among Cabinet nominees as to who will lead it.

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Also, get ready for years of this...

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Enviros are trying to take their message directly to Trump voters. Out: mass extinction. In: Climate change - and greenhouse gas emission - will raise your bills, one way or another. Look who comes first in this Friends of the Earth reax:

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

When the Biden administration first talked in January of pausing permitting new gas export project, climate change was the big issue. Nearly a year later, greenhouse gas emissions still a topic. But messaging now focuses more heavily on dollars and cents. That's not a mistake.

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Your semi-regular trade war update: Canada threatens to cut off energy exports to the US if Trump carries out his tariff plan:

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

There’s also this to worry about. People get tired of threats and it becomes more difficult to do business. S&P raising the flag on this as per about an hour ago:

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Trump basically worked the second angle in his first administration, though it caused some pain (remember the govt paying farmers after China stopped buying?). Also, ask the LNG industry how the 2019 trade war played out with them and China:

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Someone seems to be calling Trump out on the tariff threat.... apnews.com/article/mexi...

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Anyway, decisions, decisions...

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Ben Lefebvre @benlefebvre.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

The problem, of course, that there is no longer a Keystone XL pipeline project. Steel's been ripped out of the ground, easements have reverted to landowners. But lo - Trump wants to get the ol' Keystone XL pipeline moving again.

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