Welcome to the Fuel Matters Blog

According to a global energy industry forecast, oil growth will continue to soar until the 2030’s and climate-damaging emissions will keep climbing until at least 2040. The World Energy Outlook is not only closely watched by the oil industry but also the governments due to its relevance to climate policy. The International Energy Agency said that almost 20% of the growth in last year’s global energy use was “due to hotter summers pushing up demand for cooling and cold snaps leading to higher heating needs.” The Internation Energy Agency (IEA) forecast global oil demand to be 106.4 million barrels per day by 2040 (up from 96.9 million last year).

Yesterday, General Motors Company agreed to a sale of its Lordstown Ohio assembly plant to Lordstown Motors Corporation, an electric vehicle startup firm.  This is the first time the plant will be owned by another company other than GM since the facility opened in 1966.  There has been speculation about what would happen to the plant when the Union Auto Workers union went on strike in September. The UAW and GM agreed to close the plant in October of this year. 

Plans to build charging stations across the country are being crushed by groups backed by industry giants like Exxon Mobil and Koch Empire. According to utility commission filings, these groups have challenged electric companies’ across the United States. Electric utilities are seeking approval on building charging networks in locations such as shopping centers and rest stops across the nation. Whereas the petroleum sector, represented by multiple trade associations and industry-funded political groups, and consumer advocates say they should not have to pay for these services. Stating, their customers will have to pay for the investments helping utilities “pad” their balance sheets. Fossil fuel interests control about 90 percent of the transportation fuel market in the U.S. but are feeling more and more pressure from the electric wave.

Shortly after closing the doors in Lordstown, OH, GM is in discussions to sell the facility to an Electric Truck company named Workhorse.  GM made the decision in November to close down four U.S. based production plants, one of which was located in Lordstown, OH and home of the Chevrolet Cruze Sedan.  According to Tom Colton, head of investor relations for Workhorse, the talks are still in the preliminary stages.  There is no time table for speculation of the potential returning jobs to the area.  The United Autoworkers Union (UAW) has a different agenda in mind.  The UAW is trying to push for a reemergence of a petrol powered vehicle plant in the old GM facility, speculated to harbor more employees than Workhorse.