This week, the National Transportation Safety Board released its findings into the oil train derailment and fire that caused $1.2 million in damage in Lynchburg, Virginia almost two years ago on April 30, 2014 - and concluded that a broken rail was the probable cause of the accident.
As I write this in the early afternoon of Monday, May 15, I just finished reading the latest bulletin from DHS on WannaCry, the ransomware virus that has become a lead news story since the weekend.
It’s no secret that infrastructure is the backbone of this nation, from roads to bridges to airports and more – America relies on its infrastructure to keep people and our economy moving.
COVID-19 upended energy markets. Demand disappeared and producers scaled back. Now that economies are reopening, and the demand for goods and services is rebounding, the demand for energy all along the supply chain is increasing, driving up not only the cost of the feedstocks and fuels refineries and petrochemical manufacturers use, but also the cost of the energy used at every step of the supply chain.
If the Biden Administration is serious about helping consumers, it needs to adopt policies that promote U.S. energy production and refining. A good place to start would be right-sizing RFS mandates.
Limiting California’s access to the exact types of crude oil its facilities need will only increase prices for the state’s consumers and travelers. Drivers are already dealing with gasoline prices in excess of $5 per gallon and the highest fuel taxes of the 50 states. Confining energy producers and consumers to a smaller pool of crude oil will make a very sensitive price environment that much worse.
In today’s world of cyber attacks against companies, the idea of sharing information between companies on cyber developments and incidents is becoming more critical.
In the USA, Friday, May 25 will be the start of the Memorial Day weekend. Traffic, BBQ’s, opening of swimming pools, remembrances, and other events will highlight the weekend.
Today kicks off National Infrastructure Week, which recognizes voices from industries spanning the U.S. economy, all of which will be advocating for increased investment into American infrastructure.
Alongside the publication of AFPM’s new study, “The Fuel & Petrochemical Supply Chains: Moving the Fuels & Products That Power Progress,” Flash Point interviewed leaders working on U.S. midstream infrastructure issues.