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The EPA shut down the refinery, formerly called Limetree Bay, in May 2021 after a series of chemical releases into the environment sickened neighboring residents. The plant owners intend to restart the facility, but have let it fall into disrepair, the EPA said last month. The new Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit would require detailed air-quality analyses and the use of the best available air pollution control technology, the EPA said Thursday. An earlier owner, Hovensa, was required to spend $700 million on pollution control equipment, among other obligations after violating the Clean Air Act by increasing emissions without first obtaining pre-construction permits and installing required pollution control equipment. Hovensa went bankrupt and shut down the plant the following year; later Limetree Bay Ventures bought the refinery in December 2015.

Nov 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. government will award state and local governments, housing authorities and non-profits on the front lines of air pollution 132 new grants totaling $53.4 million for air quality monitoring projects, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said on Thursday. The grants, which the EPA called the largest investment in air pollution monitoring in its history, come after federal investment in air quality monitoring has waned over several decades. President Joe Biden's administration has a target to cut pollution in poor and minority communities that often take the brunt of industrial emissions. "It's time that we empower American communities with the tools and the resources they need to track critical data about the air that they breathe," said EPA Administrator Michael Regan. Last year, the agency announced $20 million in grants to communities to help them monitor their air for pollutants.

During long, cold winters, the U.S. Northeast consumes more oil and gas for heat than most of the country, especially the six-state New England region. Exacerbating those high energy costs, New England lacks enough gas pipeline capacity to meet all its heating and power generation needs on the coldest winter days. "The worse conditions get for Europe, the more exposed New England will be to elevated gas prices and LNG cargo shortages this winter." U.S. pipeline gas costs about $6 per million British thermal units, far cheaper than in Europe where gas is trading around $39 to attract LNG cargoes. But LNG accounts for about 5% of New England's gas supply, so power generators there are competing with global markets for the fuel.

Oct 27 (Reuters) - Oil prices continued to rise in early Asian trade on Thursday after surging more than 3% in the previous session, driven by record U.S. crude exports and a weaker U.S. dollar. Brent crude futures rose 25 cents, or 0.3%, to $95.94 a barrel by 0015 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 19 cents, or 0.2%, to $88.10. U.S. crude stocks rose 2.6 million barrels last week, according to weekly government data on Wednesday, with crude exports rising to 5.1 million barrels a day, the most ever. A weaker dollar makes greenback-denominated crude less expensive for other currency holders.

The idled St. Croix refinery, formerly called Limetree Bay, was shut down by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in May 2021 after a series of chemical releases into the environment sickened neighboring residents. The refinery was sold in December 2021 for $62 million to West Indies Petroleum and Port Hamilton Refining and Transportation, following the bankruptcy of its former private equity owners. The owners also failed to provide hazard assessments and other documentation for the facility, the EPA said. The refinery was sold in December 2021 for $62 million to West Indies Petroleum, a Jamaican oil storage company that intends to operate the facility. In June, West Indies Petroleum denied its ownership of the facility, though the EPA has said it does.

REUTERS/Nick Oxford/File PhotoOct 20 (Reuters) - Oil prices opened mixed in early Asian trade on Thursday as investors balanced caution over tightening supply against lower demand projections. In remarks Wednesday, U.S. president Joe Biden said he plans to sell 15 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and repurchase oil if prices fall enough. The reserve release would be the last sale from the planned sale of 180 million barrels of oil announced shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in February. U.S. crude inventories fell unexpectedly last week - down 1.7 million barrels, weekly government data showed, against expectations for a build of 1.4 million barrels. SPR levels fell 3.6 million barrels to just over 405 million, the lowest since May 1984.

Oct 18 (Reuters) - Oil prices settled lower on Tuesday on fears of higher U.S. supply combined with an economic slowdown and lower Chinese fuel demand. Brent crude futures settled down $1.59, or 1.7%, to $90.03 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude settled down $2.64, or 3.1%, to $82.82 per barrel. Oil prices were also pressured by reports that the U.S. government would continue releasing crude oil from reserves. The Biden administration plans to sell oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an effort to cool fuel prices before next month's congressional elections, sources told Reuters on Monday. In addition, U.S. crude oil stocks were expected to have risen for a second consecutive week, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Monday.

Oct 18 (Reuters) - Oil prices fell by more than 3% in volatile trade on Tuesday on fears of higher U.S. supply amid an economic slowdown and lower Chinese fuel demand. Brent crude futures fell by $2.37, or 3.6%, to $89.25 a barrel by 12:29 p.m. EDT (1629 GMT). Oil prices were also pressured by reports that the U.S. government would continue releasing crude oil from reserves. The Biden administration plans to sell oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an effort to cool fuel prices before next month's congressional elections, sources told Reuters on Monday. In addition, U.S. crude oil stocks were expected to have risen for a second consecutive week, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Monday.

President Joe Biden's announcement is expected this week as part of the response to Russia's war on Ukraine, one of the sources said. The sale would market the remaining 14 million barrels from Biden's previously announced, and largest ever, release from the reserve of 180 million barrels that started in May. Biden said last week gasoline prices are too high and that he would have more to say about lowering costs this week. Gasoline prices hit a record average above $5.00 in June. It suggested then that deliveries would be linked to lower oil prices and lower demand, likely after fiscal year 2023, which ends Sept. 30 next year.

Oct 13 (Reuters) - Oil prices struggled to find a footing on Thursday after easing in the previous session on a weakening global demand outlook. "While the OPEC+ production cuts may provide somewhat of a floor for oil prices, upside may seem limited as economic conditions will run the risks of further moderation as a trade-off to further Fed's tightening process," Yeap said. The U.S. Energy Department lowered its expectations for both production and demand in the United States and globally. Worsening demand for crude oil is contributing to inventory builds. U.S. crude oil stockpiles rose by about 7.1 million barrels for the week ended Oct. 7, according to market sources citing API data.

Oct 13 (Reuters) - Oil prices struggled to find their footing in Asian trade on Thursday after easing in the previous session on the back of a weakening global demand outlook. "While the OPEC+ production cuts may provide somewhat of a floor for oil prices, upside may seem limited as economic conditions will run the risks of further moderation as a trade-off to further Fed's tightening process," Yeap added. The U.S. Energy Department lowered its expectations for both production and demand in the United States and globally. Worsening demand for crude oil is contributing to inventory builds. U.S. crude oil stockpiles rose by about 7.1 million barrels for the week ended Oct. 7, according to market sources citing API data.

Oct 13 (Reuters) - Oil prices struggled to find their footing in early Asian trade on Thursday after a weakening global demand outlook depressed the market in the last session. Both OPEC and the U.S. Energy Department cut their demand outlooks. The U.S. Energy Department lowered its expectations for both production and demand in the United States and globally. read moreWorsening demand for crude oil is contributing to inventory builds. The energy market is under pressure as well from the dollar, which has rallied broadly, including against low-yielding currencies like the yen.

Brent crude settled down $1.90, or 2%, to $94.29 a barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled down $1.78, or 2%, to $89.35. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"There is growing pessimism in the markets now," said Craig Erlam of brokerage OANDA. U.S. crude oil stockpiles were expected to have risen last week after having fallen the prior two weeks, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Tuesday. A strong dollar makes oil more expensive for buyers with other currencies and tends to weigh on risk appetite. President Joe Biden is re-evaluating the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia after OPEC+ announced last week it would cut oil production, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday.

World Bank President David Malpass and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned on Monday of a growing risk of global recession and said inflation remained a continuing problem. Brent crude was down $1.62, or 1.7%, to $94.57 a barrel by 12:14 p.m. EDT (1614 GMT). Oil also came under pressure from a strong dollar, which hit multi-year highs on worries about interest rate increases and escalation of the Ukraine war. A strong dollar makes oil more expensive for buyers with other currencies and tends to weigh on risk appetite. President Joe Biden is re-evaluating the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia after OPEC+ announced last week it would cut oil production, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday.

Sept 29 (Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Thursday after gaining more than $3 in the prior session, with a strong dollar capping oil demand and concerns over the faltering global economic outlook clouding market sentiment. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterHowever, the dollar index trended upward again on Thursday, dampening investor risk appetite and stoking fears of a global recession. Goldman Sachs cut its 2023 oil price forecast on Tuesday, citing expectations of weaker demand and a stronger U.S. dollar, but said global supply disappointments reinforced its long-term bullish outlook. Citi economists have lowered their China GDP forecast from 5% year-on-year growth to 4.6% for the fourth quarter of 2022. "Stringent zero-COVID measures and a weak property sector continue to cloud growth prospects," Citi analysts wrote in a note on Wednesday.

Sept 29 (Reuters) - Oil prices fell in early Asian trade on Thursday as a strong dollar and economic woes outweighed optimism over consumer demand. Brent crude futures fell 59 cents, or 0.7%, to $88.73 per barrel by 0016 GMT while U.S. crude futures fell by 54 cents, or 0.7%, to $81.59. Both benchmarks rebounded in the prior two sessions amid volatile trade after reaching nine-month lows this week. A strong dollar reduces demand for oil by making it more expensive for buyers using other currencies. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Laura SanicolaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Sept 28 (Reuters) - BP Plc laid off most contractors at the approximately 160,000 barrel-per-day Toledo, Ohio, refinery it owns with Cenovus Energy Inc (CVE.TO), according to sources familiar with the matter on Wednesday, indicating that the plant will experience a prolonged shutdown following last week's explosion and fire. The more than 100-year-old refinery has been offline since the middle of last week following the explosion and could be shut for several months. Leaking fumes from a crude unit may have caused the ignition in another unit at the facility, a source told Reuters. In August, Cenovus said it would buy the remaining 50% stake it does not already own in the BP-Husky Toledo Refinery. In 2008, Husky Energy Inc formed a joint venture with BP by acquiring a 50% stake in the Toledo refinery.

Model of Oil barrels are seen in front of rising stock graph in this illustration, July 24, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationSept 22 (Reuters) - Oil prices edged lower in early Asian trade on Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates significantly to curb inflation, with fears for the global economy casting a shadow over future fuel demand. Brent crude futures fell 16 cents, or 0.2%, to $89.67 per barrel by 0013 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped 15 cents to $82.79 per barrel. The Fed raised its target interest rate on Wednesday by 75 basis points for the third time, to a 3.00-3.25% range, and signalled more large increases to come. read moreRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Laura Sanicola; Editing by Kenneth MaxwellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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