Its natural gas, the same fossil fuel that was in such short supply a decade ago that it was deemed unreliable. Its now being uncovered at such a rapid pace that its price is near a seven-year low. Long used to heat half the nations homes, its becoming the fuel of choice when building new power plants. Someday, it may win wider acceptance as a replacement for gasoline in our cars and trucks.
Natural gas abundance and low price come as governments around the world debate how to curtail carbon dioxide and other pollution that contribute to global warming. The likely - - - - >

Exxon agreed to buy XTO Energy in an all-stock deal at a 25 percent premium, showing how eagerly a company that is among the most conservative in a conservative industry is jumping into the market for natural gas.
As negotiators haggled in Copenhagen over a global plan to curb carbon emissions, the deal suggested Exxon sees change coming for an energy source best known now for heating homes.
The deal announced Monday was also the largest for the U.S. energy sector in at least four years and Exxons biggest acquisition since it bought Mobil Corp. for $75 billion in 1999.
The technology to - - - - >

Oil fell to a two-month low after the greenback advanced on speculation the Federal Reserve will increase borrowing costs next year because of an improving economy. Prices have dropped 11 percent since Dec. 1 on the dollars strength and rising U.S. fuel inventories.
“This move lower has been triggered by whats happened in other markets,” said David Kirsch, an analyst with PFC Energy in Washington, an energy strategist to companies and governments. “Market sentiment has shifted and is now focused on the weak fundamentals.” - - - - >

Lowes has begun stocking solar panels at its California stores and plans to roll them out across the country next year.
This shows how far the highest of the high-tech alternative energy technologies has come. Solar power is now accessible to anyone with a ladder, a power drill, and the gumption to climb up on a roof and install the panels themselves.
For Lowes, its an opening into a new and potentially lucrative DIY business.
“Theres definitely a growing market for this with the number of people moving toward energy efficient homes,” spokesman Steven Salazar said.
Buyer be warned, however. The DIY part of - - - - >

Oil rose for the first time in six days after the American Petroleum Institute said crude inventories fell by 5.82 million barrels last week. The U.S. Energy Department will release its weekly report today in Washington. Supplies of distillate fuels such as diesel and heating oil remain 33 percent higher than a year ago, according to the department.
“This is the first stage of the new cycle as the demand recovery on a global scale is underway,” said Tobias Merath, head of commodities research at Credit Suisse - - - - >

Oil pared some of yesterdays 2.3 percent losses that followed U.S. government data showing an increase in stockpiles held in the worlds biggest energy consumer. The dollar pulled back against the euro before a monthly industry report that may indicate the U.S. economic revival is spreading beyond manufacturing.
“The dollar has weakened and its driving the oil market higher,” said Ken Hasegawa, a commodity derivatives sales manager at Newedge in Tokyo. “We can see some buying interest from funds.”
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“Transparency, longevity and certainty” are what the clients of Germanys biggest bank want most in a United Nations accord, Koch-Weser said in an interview. “A strong deal is essential to create the rules, price signals and risk-return incentives that business needs.”
The almost 200 countries that will meet starting Dec. 7 wont be able to complete an agreement, the initial target for the Copenhagen gathering, UN officials have said. Every year of delay adds $500 billion to the minimum of $10 trillion in energy-industry investments needed over - - - - >

Oil slipped 1 percent as the U.S. currency advanced for the third time in four days. Stocks and equity futures retreated after European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said policy makers will withdraw emergency cash gradually to avoid fueling inflation.
“We will take oil prices down another notch because of the strengthening dollar,” said Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch & Associates, a Galena, Illinois, consultant. “Things are bearish everywhere you look.”
Crude oil for - - - - >

Oil fell 0.8 percent as the Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary index of consumer sentiment unexpectedly weakened. An Energy Department report yesterday showed that fuel consumption slipped last week to the lowest level since June. Supplies of crude oil, gasoline and distillate fuel, a category that includes heating oil and diesel, rose.
“The market is honing in on all the bearish news thats out there,” said Gene McGillian, an analyst and broker at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut. “For the last four to six weeks theres been some - - - - >

Global oil demand is expected to advance 1 percent a year to 105 million barrels a day by 2030 from 85 million barrels a day in 2008, the adviser to 28 nations said today in its annual World Energy Outlook. The figure is below last years 2030 estimate of 106 million barrels a day.
“The global financial crisis and ensuing recession have had a dramatic impact on the outlook for energy markets,” the Paris-based agency said in its executive summary of the report. “World energy demand in - - - - >